€2m budget allocated for District Centre Enhancement Scheme

A BUDGET of €2 million has been allocated for the District Centre Enhancement scheme, which will see South Dublin County Council make improvements to four centres by 2025.

Support of local businesses is included in the programme, which states the council aims to identify opportunities for good growth.

This will be done via work with the Local Enterprise Office and Chamber of Commerce to help get local businesses to shape the project design and delivery of the centres, promote access to established business support programmes, and various training, mentoring, grant funding and financing schemes.

The centres’ in line for a revamp are Castletymon, Bawnogue, Neilstown and Rosemount (Ballyroan).

Councillors voted for the centre most in need of support at their respective area committees.

According to the council, the objective is to create places that enhance pedestrian and cycle connections, provision of common areas, and creation of vibrant, distinctive places

Funding for the programme is split over the four area committees.

Survey and design work started already on the Castletymon and Rosemount centres.

Artistic measures are also a feature of the scheme.

Blank Walls’ would be a community art project intended to bring flashes of colour and creativity to everyday spaces in the district centres.

The council is proposing to undertake a Public Art Commission consisting of 11 temporary visual art installations (murals), on commercial units in South Dublin County.

The council are currently preparing a Part 8 application on Castletymon, due for public consulation towards the end of this year.

Following on from that, Rosemount will undergo a similar process in 2022, to be followed by Bawnogue and Neilstown Shopping Centres in that order.