ABBEYFEALE REDEVELOPMENT TO GO AHEAD

The new redevelopment project in Abbeyfeale town centre has eventually been given the green light by Limerick County Council. The project, spearheaded by Donal and Mary Murphy, will involve  the creation of a new commercial centre in the town centre, in an area currently occupied by the  Abbey Stone and Tile centre, behind Main street and Church street, with access being provided onto Colbert’s terrace.

It is hoped that the development will provide the catalyst for the further regeneration of the town centre, which has to date seen a demise in the number of thriving businesses, for which it was once famous.

The new development will involve the demolition of a number of existing business premises and the creation of a new road (to be named Abbey road, after the old cistercian abbey in the square), potentially joining Church street with Colbert’s terrace. Adjoining building owners are being encouraged to assess the feasibility of redeveloping the rear of their properties, with a view to creating the first new street in Abbeyfeale since C.1880, when New street (then known as Chapel street) was first opened up as the connecting road to Athea, following the opening of the new railway station. The new urban retail quarter in Abbeyfeale is hoped to be the location of a new Primary Care Centre, taking over from the existing health clinic currently  located on Colbert’s terrace. Incorporated into the new development will be a number of Ground floor retail units, upper floor apartments and office space.

In 2007, preliminary Site Investigations were carried out on the proposed town centre site, by Dennison Architects and Hutch Hollywood Engineers. Digital Ground Level Surveys of the surrounding area were create and transformed into a balsa wood model of the area. This scaled model was then used to design the scheme and explain the development to clients, local authority and members of the design team. It provided the basis on which new building heights and levels would be based. A photographic survey was also carried out of the shopfronts and houses along main street, church street and colbert’s terrace, with an emphasis on producing scaled elevations of all the adjoining buildings.

The proposed Primary Care Centre is a three storey stand-alone building, with solar glazing and oak louvres incorporated into the design. There is a common entrance lobby with passenger lift providing access to all levels. Separate entrances have been provided at opposite ends of the building, to facilitate multiple occupancy at a future date. The detailing of the building will be clean,crisp and  contemporary, adding a sense of public pride to the new quarter.