Work to start before Christmas on new €1.05m Digital & Enterprise Hub for Carrick-on-Suir

Caption for photo above: Pictured at the contract signing for the next phase of the Carrick-on-Suir Regeneration Scheme at Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Offices were front row: Alan Macilwraith, JCA Architects; Tipperary County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Declan Burgess, Tipperary County Council CEO Sinead Carr, Cathaoirleach Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Cllr Mark Fitzgerald, Seamus Butler, Marlhill Construction Services Ltd:

Back: Carrick-on-Suir MD Engineer Denis Power, Christopher Olden of JCA Architects, Cllr David Dunne, Carrick-on-Suir MD Administrator Marie Cox, Jamie Butler of Marlhill Construction Services Ltd, Ciarán O’Shea, Project Manager Tipperary County Council, Donal Linehan MBQS, Carrick MD Director of Services Brian Beck.

Work is to start before Christmas on the next €1.05m phase of Carrick-on-Suir Regeneration Scheme, which is the transformation of the town’s old derelict post office building into a Digital & Enterprise Working Hub for small businesses and remote workers.

Internal works are due to start in the next few weeks on the early 20th century Main Street building with external works scheduled to get underway after Christmas.

The project’s imminent commencement comes two weeks after Tipperary County Council appointed Clonmel based Marlhill Construction Services Ltd as the contractor for the year-long project.

The contract for the post office revamp was signed at Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Offices on November 18.

The €1,054350 project is being funded by the Rural Regeneration Development Fund and Tipperary County Council.

Tipperary County Council said the project has evolved and developed over a number of years with invaluable support and input from multiple stakeholders and extensive public consultation greatly influencing the design of the scheme.

Jack Coughlan Architects (JCA), Malachy Walsh & Partners, Engineering and Environmental Consultants and Michael Barrett Partnership Quantity Surveyors (MBQS) are the Design Team for this project.

Tipperary County Council said the team are a leading provider of integrated design consultancy services across the Republic of Ireland with extensive experience in historic buildings renovation.

The Digital & Enterprise Working Hub will comprise single and shared offices including toilets, showers and kitchen facilities.

The revamp will include conservation repair to the existing building fabric and the demolition of two disused sheds in the rear garden.

There will be minor adjustments to the existing plan layout at ground and first floor level and a new lift will be installed within the existing building footprint.

The carriage arch at the front of the building will be converted to a reception/ public entrance leading to the rear garden which will be landscaped.

A state-of-the-art multi-media room with facilities for creating podcasts will also be developed in the Hub.

Tipperary County Council CEO Sinead Carr warmly welcomed the start of the next phase of the €17.8 million investment of Rural Regeneration Development Fund monies in the town, particularly as it means the refurbishment and restoration of a vacant derelict building in the town centre.

Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Fitzgerald also welcomed the next phase of Carrick Regeneration Scheme.

He highlighted the positive impact of the Regeneration Scheme’s first phase, which is focused on Sean Healy Park, Castle Park and part of Castle Street, and the commitment of the Municipal District to large-scale investment in the future of Carrick-on-Suir and its district.

Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District’s November meeting heard the Regeneration Scheme’s first phase is nearly complete with final snagging works being undertaken at Sean Healy Park and some final works to be carried at Castle Park, Castle Street and Strand Walk.

A fourth sculpture for Castle Park will be unveiled as part of the Tractors & Tudors Christmas Festival on December 14.
Meanwhile, the tender for the final detailed design of another phase of the Regeneration Scheme – the upgrade of Chapel Street, William Street, the rest of Castle Street and North Quay from Castle Lane to Dillon Bridge, is being finalised.

District Administrator Marie Cox informed councillors that consultants are working on tender documents and a bill of quantity for this phase of the project.