Work to start soon on €11m. Mayo historic core renewal project

The former Imperial Hotel is included in plans

A Mayo Oireachas member has confirmed that works will start next year on the town’s historic urban core renewal project, for which almost €11.3 million was allocated some years ago.

Senator Chambers explained that a building contractor is due to be appointed to transform the former Post Office at Ellison Street into a Youth Resource Centre for members of Foróige at a cost of €1.5 million.

It had been previously put out to tender in 2015.

This will be followed by the conversion of the former Imperial Hotel into a Centre of Climate Change Action, environmental business-led research and the wider green and smart economy, a facility that will form part of the Atlantic Enterprise Hub Project in an initial investment of €5.3 million.

Then, in a third sub-project, a sum of €937,500 is set aside to begin works on the refurbishment and rejuvenation of the Mall and enhancing connection to other parts of the town, including the Military Barracks and Ellison Street.

An allocation of €2.18 million is earmarked for works to reverse emergent dereliction in the Military Barracks buildings and to integrate the site with the historic core reactivation initiative.

It is also planned by the council to acquire four vacant properties at Rock Square for social housing use at a cost of €390,000.

Senator Chambers held talks with the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien, during his recent visit to the county town, during which he also met senior council officials about the matter.

“I appreciate these issues have been a matter of great public debate over the past number of months, but people can expect works to start happening around next March or April, I would expect.

"The minister has made his position very clear in regard to the importance of reaching that point,” she said.