Monaghan’s regeneration drive gathers pace as council looks to bring projects to ‘shovel ready’ stage

Local authority officials are currently running the rule over expressions of interest from community and voluntary groups as well as business representative groups for funding under the funding model aimed at reinvigorating urban centres.

The deadline for suitable applications closed last Wednesday.

The Project Development Measure (PDM) aims to assist local authorities to contribute to a pipeline of significant, well-developed town regeneration projects which might subsequently progress to construction stage, subject to the availability of funding.

In a statement, council bosses said the funding model would help cover the likes of design, planning, procurement and other costs linked to successfully approved projects.

“Funding of €50,000 per application at a grant rate of 95pc will be provided for up to three proposals that will bring the projects up to shovel ready stage,” read a statement.

“Funding may be awarded for costs such as detailed design, planning, procurement, professional fees, assessments/surveys and other development costs.

The council said the development of the proposals required consultation with an appointed TRO (Town Regeneration Officer) and local town or village community and business interest groups.

“Full involvement by community interests and/or business interests will be an essential feature of successful projects.

“Ideally, projects will have been identified as part of a town plan, health check or similar study, produced for the town or village.”

The local authority said projects that cannot demonstrate that a consultative process has been undertaken to ascertain the views of local community and businesses will not be permitted.