PRESENTATION TO WESTPORT TOWN COUNCIL...Management Plan • Further inspection by the Forest Service...

WESTPORT HOUSE & DEMESNE - MASTERPLANJULY 2010

PRESENTATION

TO

WESTPORT TOWN COUNCIL


AGENDA• Introduction

• Project Team

• Summary Overview

• Westport House – Past

• Westport House - Present

• Westport House - Future

• Strategic Opportunities

• Woodlands Regeneration

• International Trends

• Support for Westport House

• The Proposed Masterplan

• Conclusion


INTRODUCTIONGENESIS

• Westport Plan – 2000

• Blackwood Conservation Reports 2003

• Request For Estate Masterplan from WTM – April 2005

• Engagement of Expert Team - 2005

• Planning Rationale – 2007

• Consultations WTM – Draft Masterplan

• Submission of Review of WTP 2003 – May 2008

• Endorsement of Draft Westport Town Plan - 2009

• Submission to Western Regional Authority – 2010

• Westport & Environs Plan – approved Jan 2010


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Westport Town Council

• Westport Civic Groups

• Westport as a Heritage Town winning many National and International Awards

• Grant for Woodland Renewal

• Heritage Council Grants for Roof and Feasibility Consultations•• Failte Ireland and Western Tourism

• Support for planning applications, pending Masterplan


PROJECT TEAM• Client & Promoter The Altamont Family

• Architects & Masterplanners RKD Architects

• Commercial Adviser WK Nowlan & Associates

• Financial Adviser Casey McGrath

• Planning Consultant RPS Planning

• Landscape Architect Brady Shipman Martin

• Engineer Arup Consulting Engineers

• Historic Buildings Consultant Paul Arnold Architects

• Historic Consultant Anne Chambers

• Woodlands Management Purser Tarleton Russell

• Quantity Surveyor Bruce Shaw Partnership

• PR Consultant Terry Reilly


SUMMARY OVERVIEW• The proposed Masterplan is to support a

Restoration and Tourism Project at Westport House sponsored by Lord and Lady Altamont and their family

• An iconic themed Project with International appeal has potential over 10/15 years to attract 400,000 visitors annually, generate 100 additional jobs and significantly benefit the regional economy

• Project matches Failte Ireland Policy for Tourism Product

• Team in place with World Class expertise

• Strong Regional and National Support including Mayo County Plan, Minister for Tourism and Western Tourism


SUMMARY OVERVIEW• Westport House contribution to Tourism

since 1960’s:-

House and Demesne Hotel Golf Course

• Improved Road, Rail, and Air linkages make it possible to improve tourism potential to Westport and Region through provision of quality products

• Project is highly desirable in the Tourism context & has the potential to be sustainable, viable & profitable, subject to raising:-

Grant Aid Capital from sale of Development Land


WESTPORT HOUSE - PAST• Cathair na Mart O’Malley Fortress

• John Browne married Maud Bourke c. 1665

• Original House built late 1600s

• Westport House & landscape developed through 18th Century Cassells & Wyatt architects

• Westport & Louisburgh laid out by 1st Marquess of Sligo late 1700s

• Further development of House & Estate 1800-1914

• Main Estate entrance ceded to town in 1940s

• Estate opened to public in 1960

• Present Owners are descendants of Grainuaile


WESTPORT HOUSE - PRESENT

• House & Estate of National and International importance

• Potential to improve Linkages between House & Town

• Landscape & Woodlands undergoing regeneration

• Existing tourism facilities need to be & have enormous potential for major enhancement

• Westport as a destination needs enhanced tourism offer to continue to compete & flourish


WESTPORT HOUSE - FUTURE

• West of Ireland Tourism Growth

• Ongoing development of Knock Airport

• Improved Transportation Links

• Need to accommodate enlargedtourist population

• Need to accommodate enlargedworking population

• Potential to become an Iconic Major Irish Tourism Destination, a Quality Development with Strong Family appeal

• Westport House & Town working together to achieve these goals


WESTPORT HOUSE - FUTURE• WESTPORT HOUSE

Heritage House enhancement Wedding & Conference Venue Iconic Visitor Attraction

• Visitor Experience• Activity Park• Family Oriented

Enhance Outdoor Adventure Centre Potential 400,000 Visitors annually

• WESTPORT TOWN

Transport Infrastructure Hotel & Tourist Accommodation Retail, Restaurant & Pub Life Leisure Opportunities


• Socio - Economic Trends

• Demographic Trends

• Housing Trends

• Regional Development Trends

• Statutory Planning

• Tourism

STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES


SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRENDS

• Regional decline in agriculture in recent decades replaced by services & public sector employment

• Today - Services the dominant driver of economic activity

• Longer term positive economic growth forecasts

• Tackling regional & local infrastructural growth constraints critical

• Limited employment opportunities for graduates in Western region


DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS• 8.6% population increase 2002 – 2006 in

West

• High levels of migration

• BMW Region sparsely populated

• Region 47% of state’s land-mass 27% of the population

• Western Region population change Growing dominance of Galway City

• Westport population change Decreased 2.8% 2002-2006 Strong Age Dependency Ratio

• Less people of working & childbearing ages


HOUSING TRENDS

• Slowdown in Housing Market nationally• Forecast demand to increase in 2011 – 2012

• Westport Between 2002 – 2006 Decrease of 2.8%

residing in Westport Town and Environs Increase of 9.5% residing in Westport

Rural area (Outside Westport Urban area)

Lack of available land close to town centre

• Westport House Masterplan offers potential to create sustainable development and redress population decline in inner area

• Western Rail Corridor Need for critical population mass to

support extension of this Rail Corridor to Mayo


REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

• Knock Airport Improved accessibility New routes to/from UK/Europe

• Rail Enhance accessibility within Region:-

• Extension of Western Rail Corridor • Enhance accessibility to Dublin

• Region’s Infrastructural Deficit

• Recent & Planned Road Improvements Opening of M6 motorway between

Galway and Dublin Upgrade of Galway/Sligo Link (N17) Castlebar – Ballina Hub (Including N5

Westport to Bohola Road) Atlantic Corridor – Gort /Tuam phase


STATUTORY PLANNING

• Policies supportive of Westport critical mass

NSS RPGs County Development Plan Westport Town & Environs Plan

• Westport identified as having significant development potential


STATUTORY PLANNING

• Masterplan Opportunity to progress

Demesne’s development in an integrated and coordinated manner

Meets policies of • Bord Fáilte, • RPGs• Ireland West Tourism

Conservation, architectural and natural heritage benefits

• Westport Demesne provides an opportunity for the sustainable expansion of the town centre


• Tourism – a critical role to play in Irish economy

• largest indigenous industry• regional balance• tourism revenue effect

• Essential to now attract significant numbers of additional consumers

• Failte Ireland “Tourism Product Development Strategy 2007-2013”

• “iconic” attractions in pristine natural setting

• support culture• international adventure

destination

TOURISM


TOURISM• Investment required in major

new attractions

• Within a 10/15 years time span Masterplan potentially can have Westport House and Demesne:- Attracting 400k visitors

annually Creating 100 new jobs Adding significant benefits

to the local economy

• Central theme of Grace O’Malley

• Adventure Destination Gaelforce West, Killary and other Franchises

• Upgrade House and Heritage


INTERNATIONAL TRENDS• People are seeking:-

Interaction with natural environment

Festivals and events Iconic attractions Activity & adventure

• Failte Ireland recognise & support these opportunities:-

Soft adventure Must see attractions Marine

• Intent of Masterplan is to support:-

Consumer focused and new development with real ability to attract consumers

Iconic attractions carefully located, designed, and managed to protect the heritage, environment & overall amenity of the Demesne


WOODLANDS REGENERATION•Core Area Woodland Improvement Works

• Now complete in accordance with agreed Woodland Management Plan

•Completed restoration works include:- Exclusion of grazing stock from woodlands to

facilitate return of woodland flora & survival of regenerating tree species.

Planting of 10,000 new trees in the woodlands:- Primarily Beech & also Oak, Sweet

Chestnut, Horse Chestnut, Hemlock Augmented by ash and sycamore

natural regeneration Making safe/removal of some dangerous

trees Wood thinning to extend longevity &

stability & provide more light for new tree generation

Woodland tidying by removal of some dead and dying timber

WESTPORT HOUSE WOODLANDS PROGRESS UPDATE JUNE 2010


WOODLANDS REGENERATION

• Completed works now formally approved by Forestry Inspector, Tom Kavanagh.

• Ongoing maintenance will include:-• Replacing failed recently planted trees Maintenance of stock fencing Control of competing vegetation to ensure

planted trees become fully established Ongoing implementation of agreed Woodland

Management Plan • Further inspection by the Forest Service in 2014

• New screen planting to waste water treatment facility completed:-

• 7,800 trees have been planted • Oak, Beech, Ash, Birch, Scots Pine, Hemlock• Screens proposed Masterplan and Demesne

from waste water facility


SUPPORT FOR WESTPORT HOUSE MASTERPLAN

• Mayo County Plan 2008 - 2014recognises the importance of Westport as part of the Ballina/Castlebar/WestportDevelopment Hub and as an important Tourism Centre in its own right. The strategic objective in relation to Westport House is as follows:-

“It is an objective of the Council to prepare, in conjunction with the owners and Westport Town Council, a detailed plan for the future of Westport House and Demesne to provide both for the preservation of the House and other significant buildings as well as the core of thelandscaped parts of the demesne and also for an appropriate level of commercial and other development as is necessary to provide an income to ensure the future viability and preservation of the house anddemesne.”


SUPPORT FOR WESTPORT HOUSE MASTERPLAN• In April 2005 the Westport Town Manager

offered support in preparing a Master Plan and recognised:-

“the extremely positive contribution which Westport Estate has made to the overall development and current prosperity to the town of Westport over many years”

• In March 2008 Minister for Tourism Seamus Brennan writing to CEO Failte Ireland following presentation of the Westport Plan “I strongly support efforts to develop

tourist attractions that assist in promoting the spread of tourism, and I am hopeful that the proposals for the development of Westport House can be brought to fruition.”

• 2005- 2009 Heritage Council – Roof Restoration Project (completed) and assistance on Business Plan

• 2009 -2010 Grant Aid for Woodland restoration

• 2008 Analysis of Business Plan by WTC

• Wide canvass of opinions from local political, business & community leaders has been very positive


SUPPORT FOR WESTPORT HOUSE MASTERPLAN• Masterplan compatible with

Westport and Environs Plan

• The Westport Town and Environs Development Plan 2010 - 2016 was adopted on 28th January 2010. Westport Demesne have been rezoned to Objective L as hereunder:

“The objective of the Westport House and Demesne Masterplan land use is to facilitate appropriate development through the implementation of an approved Masterplan in order to ensure the viability and conservation of the estate. Permitted uses in this zone will be assessed on the preparation of a Masterplan but may include residential, commercial and tourist related activities all subject to the protection of the natural and built environment of the demesne.“

The Zoning Matrix in relation to Objective L identifies:

• Permitted Uses: - Cultural (library / art gallery), car parks, camping and caravan parks

• Open for Consideration: - Housing/apartment schemes, single house/housing cluster, holiday home, holiday home scheme, guesthouse/hotel, restaurant, pub, convenience shop (local), educational/childcare, nursing home, community halls, sports clubs, recreational buildings, offices, major playing fields, park/playground/OS, cattle shed, tourism recreation and utilities


THE PROPOSED MASTERPLAN

• Approval of the proposed Masterplan will support:-

• Short / Medium Term Ongoing conservation of Westport House Heritage -€5m estimate

• Short / Medium Term further Capital Requirement - €11m

• Funding sources:-

• Visitor revenue• Grant Aid • Capital from Development • Investors • Borrowings


• Key Concepts

Preservation of the House and other significant buildings & the landscape core of the demesne

Enhancement of linkages between Westport House and Westport Town

Improvement of linkage of north side of the town with the quay and alleviation of traffic congestion in town & enhancement of the Westport Smarter Travel scheme

Creation of Iconic New Visitor attractions to benefit the House & Town by generating employment opportunities and income through Tourism potential

Creation of New Living, Working & Leisure Community in harmony with its natural setting.

THE PROPOSED MASTERPLAN


THE PROPOSED MASTERPLAN- INDICATIVE LAYOUT


THE PROPOSED MASTERPLAN- USE ZONINGS


CONCLUSION• Protection of Westport House and its Core

Heritage Area

• Enhancement and protection of the Woodlands

• Creation of Iconic New Visitor attractions to benefit the House & the Town, by generating employment opportunities and income through Tourism potential

• Enhancement of linkage of Westport House with Westport Town

• Improvement of linkage of town with the quay, alleviation of traffic congestion in town & enhancement of the Westport Smarter Travel scheme

• Creation of New Living, Working & Leisure Community in harmony with its natural setting.

PRESENTATION TO WESTPORT TOWN COUNCIL...Management Plan • Further inspection by the Forest Service...

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