Town Centre First

The Town Centre First Policy launched on 4 February 2022. It is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It advocates for a holistic, place-based approach to sustainable rural development. Irish towns are facing significant challenges and opportunities that require a coordinated and comprehensive response.

Town Centre First (TCF) recognises that every town is unique and the policy will facilitate the response by towns of all sizes across the country so that their centres can function as the sustainable and vibrant heart of the communities they serve, in ways that are adaptable and appropriate to 21st century needs.

The policy was jointly created by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It contains 33 actions which will give towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and run a business. This will focus on charting the future direction of their towns, address issues of vacancy and dereliction and add vibrancy to the town centre.

The policy is underpinned by multi-billion euro investment spread across major Government schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The actions also support the protection of our environment, as well as the heritage and culture of our towns.

You can read the Town Centre First policy here.

The Town regeneration Office of Fingal County Council can be contacted via email to [email protected] .

Lusk Town Centre First Plan

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Joe O’Brien TD joined the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, to launch Lusk for Life, Fingal’s first Town Centre First Plan in May 2024. Development of Lusk for Life was supported by Fingal County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development under The Town Centre First national policy. 

Lusk was one of twenty-six pilot Irish towns awarded funding to prepare a Town Centre First Plan under this national policy. Lusk for Life builds on the work of ‘Lusk Vision 2030’ which included an extensive and in-depth community engagement process. This included a public survey with over 750 respondents and multiple community workshops. In the development of Lusk for Life, the consultants worked closely with the Local Authority, the new Lusk Town Team, the local Community and local Businesses. 

Lusk for Life aims to make Lusk town centre a more attractive place to live, work, socialise, congregate, and run a business. It has a focus on developing local community amenities, supporting existing businesses, facilitating new business opportunities, tackling vacancy and dereliction, and developing underused spaces. The plan meets wider aims to help re-imagine and revitalise Lusk.

Lusk is a compact urban settlement, with almost all amenities, housing and businesses within the confines of the ring road, making it easily navigable on foot. Lusk for Life includes actions to ensure Lusk town centre thrives. Actions include a wayfinding strategy connected to the historical past of Lusk, active travel plans and upgraded public realm to ensure a town centre that can serve the needs of future generations. Lusk for Life proposes to reinvigorate the town centre and the green areas within a short walking distance of the town core.

The town plan Lusk for Life was completed by an experienced team of urban design and community development consultants headed by AP+E which worked with the Council’s Town Regeneration Office and Lusk Town Team.

Rush Town Centre First Plan

At the National Town Centre First Day held 28th February 2024 in Limerick, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphries T.D. announced that Rush had been selected as Fingal’s second Town Centre First Town. The Town Regeneration Office welcomes the selection of Rush as a Town Centre First Town and will be engaging with the Local Elected Members, the Community and the Business Sector in Rush to establish a new Rush Town Team. This new Town Team will prepare a new Town Centre First Plan for Rush.