Kilcullen Design Statement: What's the plan?
 |
| Kilcullen streetscape views. |
The upcoming Design Statement for Kilcullen will take what is 'unique and wonderful' about the town and make sure they are valued and enhanced by developers, the local authority, and community projects, according to Kilcullen Community Action, writes Brian Byrne.
Following the news late last week that funding for the initiative had been approved by the Kildare Leader Partnership, KCA chair Ann Cashman said the benefits will be seen in a variety of areas including urban design, diversity, and addressing climate change.
The plan developed as part of the process will work with and expand on other KCA-led projects, including the Market Square redevelopment, the Polytunnel and Composter initiative, and the Town Signage — both last of which are also pending financial support from Leader. The substantial promotion of biodiversity currently under the wing of KCA will also link with the Design Statement.
There's a lot of technical jargon in the tender document prepared for the project. But it can be translated into straightforward language.
The first is to establish where Kilcullen is today in its economy, social space, environment, and viability for business.
There's that trending term of our times, 'sustainability' ... which will 'deliver an enhanced quality of life'. That’s all about making sure that the town growth is planned to provide the right size and shape, and a mix of age groups, families and single people, and work opportunities, to stay relevant to future generations.
This includes using the buildings in the town for both commercial and residential purposes, to have people around all the time ... 'life' in the town. There's an emphasis in the brief that future development should 'minimise car use and encourage walking and cycling'.
Following from that last, or underpinning it, is the requirement that Kilcullen's streets and public spaces should attract people to visit and explore — that they be designed to be 'truly rewarding' in that context.
Putting all that together will be the responsibility of Cathal O'Meara Landscape Architects, based in Cork, who will carry out the audit and develop the Design Statement. The plan will look towards a Kilcullen of 15 or 20 years into the future.
The tender brief is clear on one other thing. That communication with the people of Kilcullen throughout the process is all-important. The Design Statement must have the 'agreement and confidence' of the local community that it will 'deliver a sustainable settlement'. That means everybody who wants to should be facilitated to have their say.
The study will also inform the development of the next Local Area Plan for Kilcullen, expected to begin in the second half of next year, having been delayed by the pandemic.
The project will cost €22,000, most of which is being paid for by Leader. The balance was raised from Kildare County Council funds by Cllr Rob Power supported by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer. For KCA the Kilcullen Design Group is a team led by Orla O’Neill.
Leader funding support to Kilcullen has already resulted in a number of very successful KCA initiatives, beginning with a substantial upgrading of the Valley Park in the early 2000s. An extensive Biodiversity Survey was carried out in 2006, the development of the Dun Ailinne Interpretive Park in 2008, the provision of the Community Playground was in 2010 and an important Community Survey in 2012.
