4.0 Proposal under Gateway Innovation Fund

Sligo Local Authorities are seeking support for the development of the Eastern Fringe of Sligo City. The application incorporates four distinct but interrelated projects.

• Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Roads
• Enhancement of O’Connell Street
• Cultural Quarter
• Development of Cleveragh lands as Regional Park

The following is a summary of the projects. Full project details are available in Appendix 1.

4.1 Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Roads

The proposed Eastern Garvoge Bridge and approach roads will provide a new high-quality, single-carriageway Urban Distributor Road link on the eastern side of Sligo City. It will provide for the ongoing commercial, residential, recreational and social development of communities in the east of the city, on both the north and south sides of the Garvoge River.

The Eastern Garvoge Bridge will include from north to south the following elements:

• Northern Link Road tie-ins at two locations, one via a five-arm connection to the N16 Ash Lane Signalised Junction to include a major rearrangement of the existing junction layout, the second via a proposed four-arm signalised junction at the existing R286 Dromahair Road / Short Walk priority junction.
• Northern Link Roads from N16 Ash Lane Junction running parallel to Cushlough River to its intersection with an additional northern link to the R286 Dromahair Road through Bellanode and crossing the Cushlough River south of Glencarrig Estate.
• 3-Armed Roundabout linking these northern link roads from the Ash Lane junction and Dromahair Road to the bridge link.
• Northern Road from Cushlough River to the Garvoge River crossing Greenfield sites.
• Landmark Bridge Crossing on the Garvoge River between Ardaghowen House and Martin Savage Terrace / Garvoge Villas.
• 3-Armed Roundabout linking the bridge to the south road tie-ins.
• Southern link for Doorly Park adjacent Martin Savage Terrace.
• Road improvements/widening though Martin Savage Terrace and Cranmore Road.
• Creation of a cul-de-sac on Doorly Park Road at its intersection with Riverside.
• Signalising the existing junction of Cranmore Road with Doorly Park Road adjacent Martin Savage Terrace.
• Traffic calming mini-roundabout at the existing junction of Cranmore Road and Doorly Park Road.
• In general the proposed link roads will include a 10 metres wide single carriageway to include two 3.5 metre traffic lanes and two 1.5m on-road cycle lanes, also 3 metres wide footpaths / verges will be provided on both sides, giving a total width between the back of the footpaths of 16.5 metres. Several sections of the route will have reduced cross sections to suit tie-ins with existing roads and to minimise impacts on properties.

The Eastern Garvoge Bridge will connect communities north and south of the river and provide access to the regional hospital and the proposed new private hospital. It will improve traffic circulation on the Eastern side of the city while opening up a large area for potential development. Provision of the bridge will also facilitate the regeneration of the Cranmore/Cleveragh areas.

Project Cost: €34,195,387

Funding Sought: €13,478,702

(For full breakdown of individual project costs, see Appendix 3)

- Projects proposed under the Gateway Innovation Fund: Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Roads, Enhancement of O’Connell Street, Cultural Quarter, Cleveragh Regional Park

- Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Roads

- Pedestrian routes network in the City centre

4.2 Enhancement of O’Connell Street

The objective of the scheme is to provide a high-quality inner-urban environment where the balance of retail shopping and recreational amenity can be supported and enhanced in a safe and accessible way. The intention is to create a pedestrian priority zone in the heart of Sligo City. This will improve the quality and attractiveness of the urban environment, while at the same time create a more permeable, connected city-space that will allow for the commercial and residential development of existing (under-utilized) brownfield sites in and around O’Connell Street. This will be achieved in the context of the realignment of the town centre along the banks of the Garvoge River. The project will also incorporate the rationalization and future-proofing of subterranean services and utilities on O’Connell Street.

The development proposes:

• The removal of the existing undersized concrete footpaths.
• The removal of the existing asphalt road surface.
• Traffic calming of the junctions of O’Connell Street with John Street and Grattan Street to the south and with Lower Knox Street to the north.
• The rationalization and future-proofing of subterranean services and utilities which will include the removal of leaking undersized Victorian water mains, provision of new sewers, provision of extra ducting for all utilities, the repair of an existing Victorian brick storm water culvert, and the provision of new water mains. This element of the project is particularly important in that once the new paving is installed the council does not want to commence digging new holes in the street.
• The paving of the entire street in a combination of different stone types (to include granite, limestone and basalt) that takes account of the access needs of pedestrians, service vehicles, and persons with special needs.
• The introduction of automatic control barriers to facilitate traffic management of the street during specific periods of servicing and access to the street for emergency services.
• The provision of high quality street furniture which will include new public lighting, banner poles, benches, bollards and litter bins. The scheme will also provide for the inclusion of CCTV cameras.
• The scheme proposes new soft landscaping and trees in limited areas.

Project Cost: €5,016,466

Funding Sought: €3,216,822

(For full breakdown of individual project costs, see Appendix 3)

4.3 Cultural Quarter

The Cultural Quarter concept envisages the development of a site within the city centre where visitors will access and experience the heritage and culture of the North-West.

The Cultural Quarter is made up of two elements:

1. New Museum and extension and refurbishment of the existing Model::Arts and Niland Gallery.
2. Connaughton Road PPP project.

1. New Museum and Model::Arts and Niland Gallery Project
   Sligo Local Authorities propose the development of a regionally significant museum as key to addressing a lack of cultural/ tourism infrastructure. The proposed museum will house, in a landmark building, a dynamic facility that presents innovative and imaginative exhibition and education programmes based on the landscape and society of the North-West. In addition the authorities propose to extend and redevelop The Model::Niland (a significant international contemporary cultural centre and home to the nationally renowned Niland collection), one of the premier arts centres in Ireland. The development will include artist’s studios, new larger performance space, destination restaurant and an impressive circuit of galleries. The development will provide city-scale cultural facilities.
2. Connaughton Road PPP Project
   This project involves the development of:
   
   • a new multi storey car parking facility with 800 spaces.
   • new access ways, pedestrian and vehicular.
   • new outdoor performance space.
   • commercial development (small retail outlets, office facilities, other commercial (possibly cafes, restaurants, bars, hotel) limited residential development).
   
   The facilities of the PPP project will complement the cultural institutions, the Model::Niland and the Museum. The outdoor performance space will link both the Model::Niland and the Museum and will host outdoor events, performances, farmers markets etc. The car parking facility will serve the various facilities making up the Cultural Quarter and provide additional public parking. Its provision will help facilitate the pedestrianisation scheme within the city while drawing large numbers into the Cultural Quarter.

Project Cost: €123,639,552

Funding Sought: €36,268,158

(For full breakdown of individual project costs, see Appendix 3)

- Cultural Quarter Masterplan

4.4 Cleveragh Regional Park

Cleveragh Regional Park will be established to create high quality green recreational infrastructure in a 92.15 hectare park located in the eastern fringe of the city. The Regional Park will establish a comprehensive range of recreational infrastructure including walking and cycling tracks, parkland amenities and playing pitches, regional water sport facilities, regional outdoor activity centre, regional playground facilities and extensive areas for active and passive recreation. The objective of the proposed development is the development of the amenity, recreational and tourism potential of the site whilst ensuring that the landscape value of Cleveragh open space will be protected and enhanced.

Cleveragh Regional Park is divided into 4 major zones

Zone 1 – Cleveragh Parkland
Zone 2 – Doorly Park and Cleveragh Water Park
Zone 3 – Cleveragh Outdoor Activity Centre
Zone 4 – Cleveragh Racecourse and Cleveragh Regional Sports Centre (not included as part of GIF submission)

Project Cost: €24,767,724

Funding Sought: €16,652,318

(For full breakdown of individual project costs, see Appendix 3)

Overall GIF Submission: Project Cost: €187,619,129

Funding Sought: €69,616,000

- Key Recreational Zones – Cleveragh Regional Park

Summary Income/Expenditure for GIF Submission

4.5 Project Synergy – Eastern Fringe Development

Through support from the Gateway Innovation Fund, Sligo Local Authorities propose to develop the Eastern Fringe of the city.

Having built the Inner Relief road to the west, Sligo Local Authorities now propose to put in place the Eastern Distributor Road to the east with its associated Eastern Bridge. This creates the basis for a traffic calmed network of streets in the urban core, allowing them to be returned to the pedestrian. The enhancement strategy which includes O’Connell Street, has a central theme that recognises the value of the amenity of the Garvoge River and the necklace of linkages that connect to the river. Cleveragh Regional Park, when established, will create high-quality green recreational infrastructure in the shape of a 92 hectare park. The park will connect both sides of the city across the Garvoge river through the provision of an iconic pedestrian and cycle bridge thereby facilitating a people-powered transport, which is inherently sustainable.

The Cultural Quarter concept envisages the development of a site within the city centre where visitors will access and experience the heritage and culture of the North-West. It will include commercial and residential elements with an emphasis throughout on high-quality design and the creation of interesting new urban spaces. A multi-storey underground car-park is proposed comprising 800 car parking spaces. The design promotes a permeable area with connections from the Greenfort to the north, and Connaughton Road, through the site and engaging site uses, to the Mall and thence to the pedestrian areas of Sligo.

The delivery of these projects will be supported through the implementation of an Enterprise Strategy which will deliver key employment targets in line with local, regional and national plans. All relevant enterprise, academic and local government agencies will be involved in the development of the Enterprise Strategy which will be highly ambitious in terms of targets set to ensure that Sligo has the quantity and quality of businesses needed to sustain and attract the population increase which is required to achieve the “critical mass” necessary to support the development of Sligo as a Gateway City.

A City Centre Management project will promote enterprise through the development and implementation of a framework to support a sustainable city centre by promoting innovation and growth in new and existing enterprises located within the city centre. The project will improve the business infrastructure, increase communication and explore and develop new opportunities for both commercial interests and the Local Authorities, through the provision of strategic stakeholder partnerships.

Sligo will be marketed strongly as the location of choice. A “Sligo” brand is being developed which will incorporate all of the many benefits of choosing to live and work in Sligo. This brand will depict Sligo as a great place to live, work and play, highlighting the strong social and economic benefits of locating here.

Sligo’s location in a uniquely beautiful hinterland has contributed to the attraction of several eco-businesses locating here. To further develop Sligo as a Green City, a number of enterprise-related projects are being progressed. These projects together with the development of the green transport infrastructure will firmly place Sligo in the forefront of green cities in Ireland. A cross-border project with North Down Borough Council and Sligo County Enterprise Board aims to develop carbon neutral office space, provide supports to green businesses and develop centres of excellence which will provide a source of inspiration and expertise to lead the building industry in the use of environmental design, products and materials to facilitate the reduction in the region’s carbon footprint and its impact on climate change.