Milltown Town Centre Masterplan Details

Public Event

In line with the Town Centre First Policy, Milltown was chosen as one of the 26 towns across the country to receive funding to develop a Town Centre First Masterplan. Kerry County Council have appointed a team of consultants to support the Town Team and the Council to prepare the new Town Centre First Masterplan for Milltown.

The Masterplan aims to set a community-led vision for the future development of the town, tackling dereliction and vacant properties, town linkages and building on its assets and positive attributes to ensure that Milltown develops as an attractive and desirable place to work, live, visit and do business. This would also enable the local community of Milltown to secure funding and attract investment into the town.

Key to the success of the Masterplan is the local community, businesses, and stakeholders. The Town Team will lead and drive the Masterplan and will be supported by the Town Regeneration Officer, our consultants, and the multi-disciplinary technical and management team in Kerry County Council.

 

Community Engagement:

By commencing the preparation of the Town Centre First Masterplan, we want to ensure that the Masterplan meets the aspirations of the whole community, and we would like to meet with all stakeholders to hear your views on what should be included in the Masterplan for your town.

Have Your Say!

Public consultation has now begun, this is the Pre-draft Public Consultation Stage of the plan-making process. There will be further opportunities to engage with the Council over the course of the preparation of the Masterplan. You are invited to make Pre-draft Stage submissions and/or observations through the following platforms:

• Via the online consultation portal which includes an Online Survey: 
• By email to: [email protected]
• Hardcopy surveys( available at local businesses) and written submissions should be returned by October the 2^nd at 5pm and addressed to Town Regeneration Officer, Kerry County Council, County Buildings, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry.

 

• Any queries can be directed to [email protected] or directly to our Town Regeneration Officer Jean Foley, [email protected]

 

Submissions in writing are to be clearly marked with ‘Pre-Draft Milltown Town Centre First Masterplan’.

Submissions or observations must be made no later than 5pm on 2^nd October 2023.

Town Team

The process of establishing and selecting a Town Team has now begun. The online survey, launched on 18th September 2023, provides members of the community the opportunity to express their interest in joining the town team. The Town Team will act as a steering group, providing ongoing feedback on emerging ideas and projects and supporting the development of a clear action plan. Going forward they will, in conjunction with project and working groups, support the implementation of the plan and the communication to the wider community.

 

Policy Context

Town Centre First Policy:

The Milltown Town Centre First Masterplan is to be developed within the context of various national, regional and local level plans and reports.

Our Rural Future, the Government’s Rural Development Policy outlines a vision to support the regeneration and development of rural towns and villages to contribute to local and national economic recovery, and to enable people to live and work in a vibrant environment. The Town Centre First policy which was launched in February 2022 is central to this vision. The policy aims to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community.

The policy lays the foundation for towns to develop a tailored plan by a Town Team in collaboration with the Local Authority. The policy is underpinned by a multi-billion-euro investment programme spread across Government schemes. The Milltown Town Centre First Masterplan will subsequently provide a basis for the town to seek support from funding streams such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Active Travel Fund and Historic Towns Initiative.