A Collaborative Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) report is set to become the blueprint informing Tipperary town’s revitalisation
8th July 2022: The launch of a summary report highlighting the findings of an ‘in-depth collaborative town centre health check’ of Tipperary town took place today. The ‘Tipperary Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) Report 2022’ was undertaken as part of the Heritage Council’s CTCHC Programme and provides clear recommendations outlining the steps for the next phase of the historic town’s revitalisation.
This process began in 2020 when a number of organisations came together to set up the CTCHC project for Tipperary town, including:
- the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
- the Heritage Council
- Tipperary Town Revitalisation Task Force
- Tipperary Town Chamber and,
- Tipperary County Council
As part of the project, representatives from these organisations examined and measured the views of businesspeople and consumers living, working or frequently visiting the town. Many of these groups and individuals felt there was an opportunity for Tipperary town to, among other things, improve its liveability and accessibility (walking and cycling), and to upgrade its historic built environment, enabling greater visibility and repurposing of its natural and cultural heritage.
The CTCHC assessment process of Tipperary town involved a thorough evaluation of the town’s strengths and opportunities and used surveys to measure citizens’ perceptions of the town’s commercial, heritage and cultural assets, land/building use and vacancy levels, while also taking into account public satisfaction in terms of the town’s accessibility and entertainment facilities. (Further details on the results of the surveys are available in the notes for editors below.)
The final CTCHC report will now help to inform investment decisions for the future management and revitalisation of the historic town centre, and sets out how this can be achieved while meeting the targets set out in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2021, along with supporting Ireland’s commitment to delivering on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD said:
“With the launch of this report, we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to a ‘Town Centre First’ policy. It is so important that we maximise the potential of our historic town centres through sustainable regeneration, investment and engagement with the people who live and work there.
“I look forward to seeing how the regeneration of Tipperary town unfolds and will continue working hard to ensure that other towns wishing to avail of the opportunities afforded by the CTCHC Programme, can do so.”
Councillor Annemarie Ryan, co-author of the Tipperary Town CTCHC report, said:
“The new partnerships forged through this collaborative process have been hugely rewarding. In my role as Councillor for Tipperary town, I believe such partnerships can lead to long-lasting change for our town and in working with the CTCHC Programme, we have been able to unearth vital information and data which will enable us to bring the town forward and facilitate a brighter and more sustainable future for our community”.
Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council said:
“The publication of this report could not be more timely as Irish towns reopen fully and begin recovering from the impacts of the lockdowns. The pandemic forced people to think about their local areas in new ways and this report highlights the improvements that business owners and citizens’ living in towns across the country want to see; rethinking how we use our spaces sustainably, making town centres more accessible and ensuring that those living in or close to town centres have as high a quality of life as possible.”
Ali Harvey, co-author of the Tipperary Town CTCHC Report and CTCHC Programme Co-ordinator with the Heritage Council said:
“This report clearly demonstrates the importance of having a robust baseline and verified spatial data to inform communities, decision-making and investment proposals for the renewal of historic town centres. This data-driven approach to heritage and environmental management is hugely important with town centres throughout Ireland facing challenges as they emerge from the Covid-19 lockdown and face into an uncertain future that requires them to meet strict Climate Change and EU Green Deal targets.”
Councillor Mary Hanna Hourigan, Cathaoirleach of Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District said:
“The report provides useful data that will enable Tipperary County Council, working in partnership with the Revitalisation Task Force and other organisations, to focus resources and supports as the CTCHC Programme moves into Phase 2 – Town Centre Building Renewal and Investment Plans.”
Rita Fenton, Deputy Chair of Tipperary Town Chamber said:
“A healthy and vibrant town centre is important for everyone who lives, works and visits Tipperary Town. This process is fundamentally about how a town’s unique heritage informs our sense of identity and enables communities to embrace a more sustainable way of living that enhances well-being. Heritage reminds us of how important our historic town is in who we are and how we live. It is as important and as simple as that!”
Michael Begley, Project Manager of the Tipperary Town Revitalisation Task Force said:
“This was a truly unique baseline survey involving the historic town’s key strategic partners and provides us with a great framework for taking stock of Tipperary’s many undiscovered assets and opportunities. We must be equipped with this sort of data-driven process to build for the future in the new climate change era. As a town in Ireland’s mid-west region, Tipperary town, like other towns, is facing unchartered territory yet has so much to offer, and this Collaborative Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) Report will help us to enhance and maximise the quality of life and overall well-being of everyone in the historic town, and for newcomers who have moved here most recently from Ukraine.”
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