Athlone Innovation Hub plan would cost almost €9 million

Funding to the tune of almost €9 million will have to be sourced by Westmeath County Council if a hugely-ambitious co-working innovation hub is to go ahead on the site of a historic building in the centre of the town.

Although members of Athlone Moate Municipal District gave their seal of approval to the project last week when plans were outlined to the May meeting, the plan will remain aspirational unless, and until adequate funding can be sourced.

The massive project is earmarked for the site of the former workhouse building just off Northgate street which has been derelict of a number of years. The building is currently leased to TUS until 2026, and they have expressed an interest in providing some educational service as part of any revamp of the historic site.

Athlone Chamber of Commerce engaged a Kerry-based company called HQ Co-Working Space Ltd., to carry out a feasibility analysis of the workhouse building, and co-founder of the company, Mr. Tom O’Leary, made a detailed presentation on the project to the May meeting of the Municipal District last week.

The ambitious plans for the Workhouse building could see an annual average contribution to the local economy in Athlone of €16 million through the creation of some 250 direct and indirect jobs, with multiple more jobs linked to “collaboration and partnerships with the hub” according to the feasibility analysis report.

The project could also see the creation of 200 construction related jobs, 120 direct and indirect jobs created through upwards of 70 anchor tenants and some 500 people availing of training, events and supports. The report authors also state that opportunities to expand the hub into the other workhouse buildings could provide “a mix of community, arts and cultural space" on the overall workhouse site.

The site which was examined by HQ Co-working Space Ltd., is approximately 0.26 hectares and contains several existing buildings which occupy the majority of the site. The report stated that there is “very little potential” for future building extensions on the site which was originally constructed as one of 163 workhouses built in Ireland in the 19th century.

The vision for the site is to provide “a contemporary multi-facility enterprise space” that will provide a collaborative working environment and an entrepreneurial eco-system which will contribute to regional growth, according to the feasibility analysis.

It is envisaged that the site would contain remote working hubs; commercial office space, including a mix of smaller offices and team offices; training, mentoring and peer support; enterprise agency-led collaboration and supports; arts and community spaces and regeneration and development opportunities.

While Athlone Chamber of Commerce commissioned the feasibility analysis for the workhouse site, the ambitious plans are also being supported by Westmeath County Council, the IDA and TUS.

It is envisaged that the original workhouse building would be retained as the prominent feature in any development to take place on the site, and that the existing extensions would be demolished to make way for an open plan, landscaped courtyard to the rear of the main building.

No timeframe was given as to when the project might get underway, with Director of Services with Westmeath County Council, Barry Kehoe, acknowledging that a considerable amount of assessment would have to be conducted prior to the start of such a project.