Former west Wicklow bank could become community asset after remote hub plans rejected
The Wicklow PeoplePlans for the former Bank of Ireland building in Carnew are being reset following a significant funding setback, with local officials now pivoting toward a community-led model to finally bring the vacant landmark back to life.
The Bank of Ireland branch closed permanently in September 2021 to local outcry, as part of a nationwide reduction of 88 branches. The project had previously secured approximately €50,000 in 2022 for initial refurbishment, but the failure to secure the latest round of larger grants has delayed further progress.
District councillors in Baltinglass received an update from council officials Caroline Cullimore and Maire Halvey during their March monthly meeting where they were informed that a large-scale funding application for a dedicated remote working hub was rejected by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The Department reportedly ruled that there was "no sufficient justification" for a workspace-only facility at the site under the current Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This rejection reflects a broader trend in current national funding cycles, where the economic case for remote hubs is being scrutinised more heavily than in previous years.
The news has sparked a mix of frustration and renewed determination among local representatives, who have watched the building sit idle since its purchase by Wicklow County Council in 2022.
Cllr Peter Stapleton expressed the growing local frustration, noting that while the shift toward community use is positive, it is "important that progress is made" to ensure the building does not remain a vacant eye-sore on Main Street.
Cllr Jason Mulhall echoed these sentiments, stating that while the bank remains the "right location" for a public facility, it is now necessary to "reset expectations" for what the building will become.
The focus has now shifted to finding an anchor tenant, a local community group or organisation that would lease the building from the council and manage it for the benefit of the area. Cllr Avril Cronin noted that the building will be a "great facility" once this tenant appointed.
Despite the rejection from the Department of Rural and Community Development, the building still holds Part 8 planning permission for major refurbishments, including a new rear extension and internal courtyard, full accessibility upgrades, including a passenger lift and energy retrofitting to a B1 rating.
Cllr Patsy Glennon offered support to the Carnew Town Team, who are expected to play a central role in bridging the gap between the council and local groups interested in the space.
By moving away from the remote hub label, the project can now bypass the economic hurdles that led to the Department's rejection and instead tap into social and heritage-based grants.
Potential alternative funding streams include the CLÁR Programme which provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas, which could support specific elements of the building’s fit-out. The LEADER Programme also remains a vital source of support for rural development projects that are led by the community and promote social inclusion.
For a town that has lacked a central, modern public space, the community-first pivot may finally provide the justification the Department is looking for to release the necessary funds for construction to rejuvenate the area.