More parking, housing and jobs — what locals want for long-derelict Tipperary site
The draft masterplan for a long-derelict Tipperary site has been published after more than 2,000 submissions were made by members of the public.
People were asked what they would like to see for the future of the Goldcrop site in Carrick-on-Suir, which has been lying idle for a number of years.
Tipperary County Council purchased the site from Goldcrop in 2022 for a reported €500,000. The purchase of the site was facilitated under the council’s derelict sites act.
Some €400,000 of the purchase price came from the Government’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme’s Buildings Acquisitions Measure, which allows local authorities to purchase vacant sites.
Now, the local authority has published a draft masterplan for the site, which would see a number of different uses across the 2.7-acre site.
Included in the draft plans is a landmark building, which would have underground car parking, an extension to the nearby Brewery Lane Theatre, as well as a multi-storey car park, and a covered market square area, with addtional car parking facilities.
A multi-use community or youth area, bus and food truck parking, a resting point, campervan parking, a waterfront promenade, a performance space, and a strand walk are also cited as possible uses for the site.
A total of 159 standard car parking spaces could be provided, eight accessible spaces, and two campervan parking spaces, alongside six bus parking spots, two places for food trucks to set up, and nine shared campervan spaces.
All of the above options would be publicaly owned, with a number of privately owned ventures also being mooted for the site.
Included in these are a café, two “opportunity” sites, a park, and a potential connection to the grounds of Ormond Castle.
A report based on the 2,060 responses received by locals to the public consultation showed strong support for creating more car parking, housing, retail and employment uses on the site.
Over 1,200 people said that more parking was needed in the town, with 690 saying that more housing should be developed, and retail and services (648 responses) and employment opportunities (591) should be considered.
Plans to redevelop the site were overwhelmingly positive, with 1,189 people saying they strongly supported the redevelopment plans, 476 saying they supported it, and 140 remaining neutral. 91 people said they either opposed (55) or strongly opposed (36) the plans.
When asked specifically about what people would like to see on the site, 1,211 people said ‘other’, with parking driving many of the suggestions. 460 people said commercial or retail should be considered, while tourism based activities (407) and housing and residential (394) were also popular choices.
As part of the public consultation, Brewery Lane Theatre put forward a proposal to the Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District asking that they would be given a small portion of the site to improve access and operational flexibility.
The report states that the theatre say the extra space would allow “proper maintenance access, providing disabled parking near the entrance, improving backstage circulation through a new ‘rat run,’ and allowing for possible future stage expansion.”
The Main Street Business Initiative (MBI) said in their submission that a community-centred car park would be the way forward.
The Strand Theatre said that land that they own adjoining Dillon Bridge could be transferred to the council if it is of future development use, as long as pedestrian access and vehicle access for theatre operations is maintained, and an agreement is reached over the use of the car park during performance hours.
The draft masterplan is back on public display, and Tipperary County Council would like to get the opinions of the public on the plans.
The consultation will remain open until Friday, June 5 at 4.30pm, both online and at the Carrick-on-Suir Town Hall and library.