Athlone street revamp up for planning award

The latest streetscape redevelopment in Athlone, which saw the pedestrianisation of part of Sean Costello Street along with other upgrade works on neighbouring streets, has been shortlisted for a national award from the Irish Planning Institute.

The institute, an all-island professional membership body for spatial planners, last week announced the shortlist for the 2025 Irish Planning Awards.

Westmeath County Council was nominated, in the 'urban regeneration' category, for the 'Athlone Town Centre Enhancement Project' which was officially opened last November.

The biennial Planning Awards aim to "promote excellence in the field of planning" and to "encourage sustainable development and foster positive engagement between communities and projects".

The 2025 Irish Planning Awards attracted a record 80 entries from all around the country. A panel of expert judges have selected a shortlist for the awards, which consists of 55 nominees across 12 categories.

An overall President’s Award will be awarded to the standout winner across all 12 categories.

Gavin Lawlor, President of the Irish Planning Institute, said: "The Irish Planning Institute is delighted to be hosting the biennial awards that celebrate creativity and quality throughout the Irish planning sector.

"The awards provide an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and reward the innovative work by our members who strive every year to deliver high quality projects and sustainable developments."

The 2025 awards will be presented at a black-tie gala dinner and ceremony in Clontarf Castle Hotel on Thursday, September 25.

At the official opening of the Athlone enhancement project last year Barry Kehoe, the chief executive of Westmeath County Council, predicted that Athlone would become "the leading inland urban centre" of Ireland within the next couple of years.

Describing the ambitious project to pedestrianise Sean Costello Street and redirect traffic through the centre of the town via Mardyke Street, Mr Kehoe said the overall objective of the streetscape enhancement project was to develop Athlone" into a town which is a “vibrant, inclusive and positive” place to live, work, study and visit.