By Graham Gillespie
President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh today launched the masterplan for the regeneration of Nuns’ Island.
The masterplan is a joint venture between the University and Galway City Council.
A public consultation process to help decide how this regeneration should be carried out was also opened today.
Idea submissions will be taken until the end of April, which is when the consultation period closes.
The regeneration will take in 15 acres of land in the quarter right of the city centre and will be one of the most significant development projects in Galway in recent years.
Ó hÓgartaigh said to SIN he especially wants students of the college to be involved in this process.
“We’re very keen to get students’ input. What would you like as students for Nuns’ Island to look like? What do you need in the context of Nuns’ Island and particularly what do you think it should look like in ten or 20 years’ time?” he said.
This launch comes after Government funding was secured for the project through the Department of Housing’s Urban Regeneration and Development fund.
Planners BDP, quantity surveyors AECOM and business strategy advisors Colliers International are the companies who are preparing the masterplan.
It is hoped that the regeneration will not only benefit the University but the city more generally as the plan is expected to enhance the city’s chances of enticing multinational companies.
Ó hÓgartaigh also alluded to the “wide scope” of the regeneration with the land having the potential to be used for community, social, cultural, economic, educational, residential or environmental purposes.
“This master-planning exercise will deliver fresh perspectives on the development of University lands and properties on Nuns’ Island,” Ó hÓgartaigh said.
“We look forward to hearing the ideas of local residents, businesses, community groups and other interested parties as we collectively look to the future for this part of the City.”
Welcoming the announcement, the Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Brendan McGrath also pointed to the importance of involving the community in this planning process.
“We have been working closely with our partners and colleagues in the university to bring the project to this point and we look forward to engaging with all the stake-holder communities in this process of consultation,” he said.
“Galway City Council is committed to the triple concept of ‘People, Place and Process’ and in Nuns’ Island we look forward to building on the established strengths embedded in this city-centre area and to drawing together the complementary strands of education, culture, heritage, business and the residential community to improve and develop the local area in the context of our vibrant, dynamic city and region.”
Submissions to the consultation process can be made to nunsisland@nuigalway.ie.
Further information about the masterplan can be found at www.nuigalway.ie/nunsisland.
Image via NUI Galway