Wednesday, 8 June 2022
On Friday 3rd June 2022, the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Jack Murray together with the Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford MD, Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh and the Elected Members of the Municipal District turned the sod on the 1st phase of LK Green Connect.
The development will deliver high quality walking, cycling and public realm infrastructure in the town centre. It forms the 1st phase of the wider planned network known as ‘LK Green Connect’ that will ultimately connect across a series of town centre destinations.
The project is co-funded by Donegal County Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund which is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040.
Welcoming the progression of the project to site, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Jack Murray said: “the Council is progressing an ambitious programme of regeneration projects in Letterkenny which is focused on strengthening the County’s largest town and Regional Centre as an attractive, accessible and thriving place. The project is the first of its kind in Letterkenny and marks the first key regeneration project under the Letterkenny 2040 Regeneration Programme to progress to site. This is a very exciting milestone to see tangible progress on the ground and to build a more effective Regional Centre.”
Phase 1 will be developed in the area of Letterkenny Public Service Centre-Joe Bonner Road-Neil T. Blaney Road. As the first step, it will be transformative in rolling out the wider LK Green Connect project which will be the backbone of walking, cycling and public realm infrastructure, connecting town centre destinations, giving options for how people move around and within the town centre and providing an exciting new experience in navigating the urban environment.
Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh believes that “the project is the beginning of exciting times for the regeneration of Letterkenny town centre.” He added “Phase 1 will set the standard for the type of walking and cycling infrastructure that the Council intends to roll out and this will include safe, accessible, segregated paths and cycle lanes running alongside a green parkland space which will have seating, resting space, shelter, trees, wild planting and pollinators and will also provide an important safe crossing point on the Joe Bonnar Road. Crucially the wider project will make it easier for people to walk and cycle in the town centre as an alternative means of transport encouraging people out of private cars. This investment will also complement Letterkenny’s two wonderful town parks and start to bring similar high-quality public space into the heart of the town centre.”
Speaking about Phase 1, John G. McLaughlin, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council says: “I am delighted to see construction underway on the first phase of LK Green Connect that will lead, in time, to the full delivery of superb and much-needed walking and cycling networks set within high-quality public space. It is a clear signal of the Council’s commitment to investment in the renewal and regeneration of Letterkenny as the Regional Centre in the Northwest region and underlines the ambition to extend this high-quality infrastructure even further throughout the town centre alongside a series of other regeneration projects. Along with the entire community and all stakeholders, I am very much looking forward to the progression of this exciting project and delivery of the transformational regeneration proposed.”
Further phases for the development of LK Green Connect are forming part of the Council’s ongoing regeneration work programme and will progress in due course to Part 8 planning consent and associated public consultation. Speaking of the wider Letterkenny 2040 Regeneration Programme, Liam Ward, Director of Community Development and Planning Services said, ‘The Council has ambitious plans for the regeneration of Letterkenny town centre across a series of projects. These include the redevelopment of Market Square, the delivery of town centre green spaces, the development of a Creative Hub and the reuse of the former Courthouse as examples. The construction of the 1st phase of LK Green Connect marks the beginning for capital delivery of our wider Letterkenny 2040 regeneration objectives.’
ACS Civils LTD have been appointed by Donegal County Council to deliver the 1st phase of LK Green Connect which is scheduled to complete over the next 6 months.
