2016-2023
A trans-disciplinary Collaborative Town Centre Health Check Programme which was carried out in conjunction with participating towns across the country.
A trans-disciplinary Collaborative Town Centre Health Check Programme which was carried out in conjunction with participating towns across the country.
Update 2023-The process of town health checks is now carried out by the National Town Centre First office as part of the Town Centre First government policy.
The Heritage Council, RGDATA and the Retail Consortium, in collaboration with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, the IPI, ILI, RIAI, UCD, LIT Thurles, DIT and QUB, developed a trans-disciplinary National Town Centre Health Check Programme in conjunction with participating towns across the country. The programme will support the creation of robust Collaborative Town Centre Health Checks for 9 no. Irish towns. This work was linked to the statutory planning system through the review of county development plans and Local Area Plans.’ As part of the Town Centre First government policy town health checks are now carried out by the National Town Centre First office.’
The aim of the programme is to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of the critical role that historic town centres play and the wide-ranging impacts that their vitality and viability have on overall socio-economic, environmental and cultural growth and development, and on quality of life for citizens and visitors alike. The ‘pilot’ aims to develop an innovative town centre-led retail, cultural heritage and tourism baseline, which will be recognised internationally as a best practice collaborative development model for regeneration. Essentially, this would be an innovative national ‘Towns’ capacity-building programme designed by, and for, Local Authorities, town centre businesses and local citizens/community groups with close mentoring support from professional practitioners with significant experience of town centre regeneration, urban design and planning and management in Ireland, and elsewhere.
The proposal will build upon Collaborative Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) projects already undertaken by the Heritage Council and its key Partners including Fingal County Council/Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce in Balbriggan in 2010; and Clare County Council/Kilrush Tidy Towns, in Kilrush in 2012 (available below).
The following third-level organisations and institutes are involved as programme partners:
The Health Check will establish an innovative baseline, to help monitor and drive the development of the town centre going forward. The work of the Collaborative Town Centre Health Check will include
Members of the public and business owners are encouraged to participate and give their views on their experiences in the town centre. It is an opportunity to shape town centres and strengthen it into the future, to make it an attractive place to work, live and visit.
Due to an exponential growth in demand for the ‘pilot’ rogramme during 2016/2017, i.e. 70 no. people attended the first workshop in Naas Town Hall (September 2016) and 130 no. people attended the second workshop in Dublin Castle (March 2017), i.e. 90% increase in demand for places, the programme has been divided into two key strands, as of April 2018, namely:
Stay tuned for upcoming events.
View the workshop report below
It's been a busy year for our Collaborative Town Centre Health Programme. Join us on Wednesday 24th at 2:00pm as we reel in the year, taking a look back at all the activities that took place in 2021.
We take a look at "meanwhile use" a common practice across Europe to tackle the scourge of vacant buildings. Hear all about our recent research carried out by Anois which shows how meanwhile use could potentially bring 30-40% of vacant commercial properties in our Towns back into use, quickly and cheaply.
16th September 2021
UCC Planning Society in conjunction with The Heritage Council.
View feedback report below
This first-ever webinar on Compulsory Sale Orders (CSO) aims to shine a light on what other countries in Europe are doing to deal proactively with vacancy in historic town centres & what we can learn from their experiences.
Watch it back on Youtube below
On 25th February 2021, The Heritage Council held a Stakeholder Workshop with The Heritage Council’s CTCHC Programme and Partners. The downloads below contain the briefing pack for the workshop and the groupwork feedback slides.
On Friday 12th June 2020, A Harvey presented at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht's and the RIAI workshop on Town Centres, to inform the emerging National Policy on Architecture. View the presentation below.
Groupwork Feedback from Attendees — For Agreement
A second CTCHC Workshop for Border Towns was held in Dundalk on the 11th April 2019 – 65 no. people attended. The training pack can be downloaded below.
Presentations available upon request. Email aharvey@heritagecouncil.ie
Workshop Pack Town Centre Health Check Naas
Feedback Report On Naas Workshop
Feature in SCSI Surveyors Journal Summer 2020
Research into Incentives for the Reuse of Vacant Buildings in Town Centres
Dundalk’s Pulse Taken as part of Town Centre Health Check March 2019
Feature on Drivetime 31st March 2017-Click to listen
Minister Mitchell O’Connor launches the Framework for Town Centre Renewal
Launch of Tralee Town Centre Health Check
Radio Kerry- Interview with Minister English at Tralee Town Centre Health Check Report 2017
The Mayglass Farmstead is an exemplar and rare survivor of a type of two-storied thatched rural dwelling of the Irish vernacular tradition and one of the most significant conservation projects ever carried out by The Heritage Council.
Detail of significant archaeological investigations in Ireland which had not been featured widely in printed publications previous to 2004.
A National Heritage Council Conference