Sligo County Council re-imagines the Wine Street Car Park
Sligo County Council has asked design consultants Building Design Partnership to re-imagine the Wine Street Car Park so that it can become a vibrant new quarter of the town with an enhanced retail offering, a multi storey car park and a new public space.
A Plan for this area was originally formulated in 1999. However, due to various factors including a worldwide recession, the Johnston Court shopping centre was the only development to take place arising from the Plan.
The 2018 Public Realm Plan identified the area as a key undeveloped area with potential to become a new urban quarter of the town. A new masterplan was recommended to take account of changed economic and cultural changes that have occurred since the original Plan.
Sligo County Council applied and was successful in securing funding from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund to prepare such a new plan.
The aim of the Plan is to establish the best layout for a re-imagined block that contributes positively to the town centre and meet the needs of Sligo’s residents as well as fitting the requirements of the key property owners in the area. The Plan should also create a clear framework under which developers, traders and retailers can invest with certainty as to the expectations of the Local Authority with regard to land use, design and other planning considerations.
A lot of importance is placed on the creation of a high quality urban environment within this new area and this is highlighted by the extent of the block devoted to a large urban square surrounded by busy high street stores.
Sligo County Council sees this area as having the potential to become a vibrant addition to the existing commercial core of Sligo. We realise that the nature of retail is changing and we have to adapt our town centre to accommodate this.
In accordance with the National Planning Framework’s strategic outcome of compact growth, the redevelopment of this area is seen as a unique opportunity to enhance the overall attractiveness of Sligo City Centre as a place to live and work and promote the city as a regional and national shopping and holiday destination.
Visit the Sligo County Council website https://www.sligococo.ie/ to access the presentation
