National Planning Awards 2008 Presented
Thursday, February 28, 2008
National Planning Awards 2008 Presented
A plan for the development of the suburban rail network in Cork has taken the major award in the National Planning Awards presented today (Thursday) by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr John Gormley TD.
The awards – organised by the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) - are intended to illustrate the diversity and scope of planning activity today and give recognition to successful and innovative planning strategies, schemes or developments which make an outstanding contribution to the quality of life in urban and rural parts of Ireland.
Cork County Council took the Planning Achievement Award – sponsored by Tesco Ireland - for its suburban rail project which, the judges said, will result in “the opening of the first new railway line in this State for over 100 years and in the revitalisation of a number of key towns and villages while promoting the move to more sustainable modes of transport.”
The Urban Design Award – sponsored by Tesco Ireland – was won by Murray O’Laoire Architects for their work on the Athlone Town Centre. The judges said the project had taken “an assemblage of underused backland plots at a strategic location, close to the historic core of Athlone town, and transformed them into a new urban quarter of exceptional architectural quality and coherence.”
The Conservation Award – sponsored by the Heritage Council – went to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority for its recent renovation of the Custom House Quay Building (formerly known as Stack A) at a cost of €50m which the judges felt was “an outstanding conservation project of national historical and architectural importance.”
The Participatory Planning Award – sponsored by the Tipperary Institute – was won by Kinvara Community Council for its Integrated Area Plan. The judges considered that public participation was at the very root of the project and that, in conjunction with Galway County Council, the Community Council had produced a Plan which clearly demonstrated the views and priorities of the local community in its objectives and policies.
The Cork County Council project will now go forward as Ireland’s entry in the European Planning Awards which this year will be hosted by the IPI and take place in Dublin Castle in October.
Speaking at the presentation, Mr Andrew Hind, President, Irish Planning Institute, said the National Planning Awards were “a celebration of all that is best in Irish planning.” The record number of entries was an indication of how highly the work of the planning profession is valued.
Mr Hind praised the creativity, ingenuity and quality of the entries and pointed out that none of the projects would have achieved their desired outcome without critical support from Government Ministers, City and County Managers, County Councillors, Government officials along with the public and developers.
Mr Tony Keohane, Chief Executive, Tesco Ireland, said: “Tesco Ireland's success has been built on sustainability. It is good to have this opportunity to recognise the achievements of so many projects based on longterm sustainability."
Certificates of Merit were presented to:
North Drogheda Environs Masterplan – O’Mahony Pike (Planning Achievement)
Tallaght Integrated Area Plan 1999-2008 – South Dublin Council Council (Planning Achievement)
Special Needs and Social Housing and Artists Residence and Studio, Shandon, Cork – National Building Agency and Cork City Council (Urban Design)
Guidance Note for the Appraisal of Historic Gardens, Demesnes, Estates and their settings – Cork County Council (Conservation)
Lucan Village Design Statement – South Dublin County Council (Participatory Planning)
Issued on behalf of the Irish Planning Institute by Tony O’Brien Communications – 087.2438 584