Design of new Monksland community building shown to public

Plans for a new community building in Monksland to potentially include a performance space, café, multi-use studios and meeting rooms were recently shown to the public.

The Monksland Community Hub will be designed to be a “flexible space” that blends in with its surroundings of a new community park, which is located beside Monksland Industrial Park.

That's according to members of the design team, at the public information meeting on the plans on Tuesday, December 3, at Athlone Springs Hotel.

This was the second public information meeting on the plans, with this latest event featuring maps of the intended development site as well as drawings of the proposed building and its internal layout.

The aim of the meeting was to solicit feedback from members of the public on the plans before the application for planning permission is submitted in early 2025.

It is proposed to build the community hub beside the Monksland Community Park, which is already under development. The design of the park was developed by BDP (Building Design Partnership), who are also undertaking work on the concept for the community hub.

The Monksland Community Hub building will be located on a site, which is an extension of the community park.

Work on the wider community park is underway and includes a recreational area, playground, skatepark, soft and hard landscaped areas, paths, car parking and bio-diversity garden

The new hub's design involves a two storey structure. The ground floor will contain the cafe, performance space—which extends to double-floor height—an inner courtyard, a multi-use studio and toilets/shower facilities. All these spaces can be open to each other or to the outdoors if needed. For example, people can enter the cafe and walk through the courtyard to the performance studio if a concert is on, or the cafe and courtyard can be closed off for a private event while activity classes are conducted in the multi-use studio and performance space.

The second floor will feature another multi-use studio, as well as meeting rooms, storerooms, bathrooms and a terrace area.

The hub has been designed as a “pavilion-type structure creating intrigue and acting as a focal point within the park”, while also blending with its background. Each corner will be encased in glazing, so the activities inside will be visible from the park. The building will also be visible from the road in order to act as a landmark for the area as people drive by.

The application for planning permission will go ahead in the first quarter of 2025 once any feedback from the public has been incorporated into the designs. Applications for funding for the project will then take place, subject to planning approval.

For those who were unable to attend Tuesday's event, further details on the plans for the Monksland Community Hub are available on the Roscommon County Council website.

Comments and queries can be submitted by email to regeneration@roscommoncoco.ie up until Tuesday, December 10.