Compulsory purchase order issued for six Holborn Street houses as part of Sligo City Campus Regeneration Project

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

The vision for a cultural, innovation and learning hub for Sligo has taken a step closer to realisation after the County Council published a notice seeking a compulsory purchase order in relation to houses located at Holborn Street.

The lands in question that are subject to the compulsory purchase order are situated at 10,12,13,14,15, and 67 Holborn St. These lands consist of six dwelling houses and a commercial car park.

If confirmed, the order will authorise the local authority to acquire compulsorily the land described in the schedule for the purpose of the development of the Sligo City Campus.

Sligo County Council was previously approved to progress the Sligo City Campus Project by the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF). The City Campus involves the strategic regeneration and redevelopment of a brownfield, underutilised land in the town centre of Sligo. The redevelopment of this area is seen as a unique opportunity to enhance the overall attractiveness of Sligo as a place to live and work and promote the town as a regional and national destination.

The vision for this urban block which takes in Connaughton Road/Stephen Street/Holborn Street/Lake Isle Road is for it to become a new cultural, innovation and learning hub located within the heart of Sligo.

It is envisaged the hub will consist of a new central library; a new county museum showcasing Sligo’s rich cultural heritage and acting as a new flagship tourism attraction located within the heart of the city; enterprise and office space; residential units promoting sustainable inner city living in accordance with the density requirements as set out in the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities and high quality public spaces clustering with other URDF supported projects including the recently completed O’Connell Street Urban Enhancement Works and the Queen Maeve Square as well as the implementation of Sligo’s Public Realm Plan.