Council awarded €7m to renovate two vacant heritage buildings in Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) has been awarded €7m to renovate two vacant heritage buildings dating back to 1831 and 1910.
The two structures, located at the corner of George’s Place and Kelly’s Avenue, will be developed into the Centre for Creative Lifelong Learning in Dún Laoghaire’s town centre, based on consultations with the local community.
Frank Curran, Chief Executive of DLRCC, said the renovation will be done keeping the original character of the buildings intact.
“This is a transformative project for Dún Laoghaire, and a flagship example of how heritage-led regeneration can breathe new life into our town centres,” he said.
“The Centre for Creative Lifelong Learning will not only preserve and celebrate our built heritage, but also create a welcoming space for education, creativity and community connection for generations to come.”
The capital funding was awarded as part two of the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme (THRIVE), co-funded by the government and the EU.
The council received the first round of funding for THRIVE to carry out a study titled, Reimagining George’s Place – Revitalising through Reuse.
The study focused on the reuse of the two protected structures – No. 9 George’s Place built in 1831 as a hotel, and the former Wash House dating back to 1910.
The public in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown participated in the study through online surveys and workshops.
“These consultations helped shape the idea for the buildings’ future use,” a council spokesperson said.
“The outcome of the community feedback was a proposal for the learning centre which took values like sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion into its final design.
“The award of €7m in this round of funding will allow us to transform these buildings into a space for learning and community engagement.”
Fine Gael councillor Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach for DLRCC, said the new space will help enhance the town centre.
“By transforming the buildings into a hub for learning, we are investing in the wellbeing of our community. The centre will also revitalise the town centre by bringing activity and footfall to the area,” he said.
“We are ensuring this new centre becomes a place where people can feel included. It will be a space where people of all ages and backgrounds can come to learn and connect with each other.”