Ailtirí Architects were part of the PLACE + Urbanism and CHL Consulting team appointed by Offaly County Council to prepare an Architectural and Tourism Masterplan for the Banagher Marina and Environs Area. It is Offaly County Council’s vision to utilise and enhance the unique character and location of the Banagher Marina and Environs to create a walkable, attractive and active area, better linked to the wider town centre, with planned new civic, residential, amenity and recreational assets.

The aim of the Masterplan is to identify actions and build a network of experiences that includes other attractions in the urban area of Banagher, to support new tourism development and facilitate compact growth. In addition, the Masterplan proposals will strengthen the local economy and community, through the promotion of tourism and by encouraging innovative mixed use / cultural / tourism development in this town centre location.  The primary purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive Masterplan for Banagher, that will act as a catalyst, and be a transformative town-centre regeneration project, and which will drive the sustainable tourism, social and economic development of Banagher into the future in line with the aspirations of Ireland 2040.

The process of achieving this vision, was twofold. Firstly by identifying the areas that the community saw as priorities to be addressed within Banagher, which would make Banagher more attractive as a whole to both residents and visitors. Secondly once these areas had been highlighted, addressing each with design concepts, working in partnership with Offaly County Council and a broad Steering Group of stakeholders. In addition, we identified projects associated with each area that will improve the built fabric, waterways access and green infrastructure, as these feed life into the spaces and complete the scene set by the marina and its surrounding.