Council goes to tender for fit-out of €3.6m Monksland hub

The conversion of a warehouse in Monksland into a life sciences innovation hub and co-working facility has taken a step closer to becoming a reality with Roscommon County Council recently advertising for a contractor to carry out work on the building.

The council said the project, originally known as the Monksland Innovation Hub but now billed as the Monksland Life Sciences Hub, had the potential to be a "major jobs driver" for Roscommon.

In a statement this week, the local authority said current demand suggested the facility would have the capacity to create 125 jobs over a three-year period.

The invitation to tender for the refurbishment and internal fit-out of the hub was advertised by the council late last month.

Construction work on the 14,000 square foot building, at Daneswell Business Centre, is due to commence later this year and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2023.

Last month, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, visited the Monksland site and announced the awarding of over €2.75 million for the Life Sciences Hub project.

The funding was awarded through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and it represents the majority of the total cost of the project, which has been listed as €3.67m.

Roscommon County Council is leading the project, in partnership with Westmeath County Council and Monksland Town Team. Roscommon County Council said Athlone's TUS technological university was also "supportive" of the proposed facility.

The project is set to see the disused warehouse building being "refurbished and repurposed" as "a life sciences and co-working hub to support existing rural enterprises and start-up companies".

The hub is designed to "provide a co-working space, training facilities and a soft landing space for start-up companies," and to "build on the software and life sciences businesses already located in Monksland."

"Seven office units and 40 desk spaces" are to be provided at the hub "within a five year period," the council said.

The current tendering process for the refurbishment and fit-out of the building stated that the work would include the replacement of all external doors, windows, wall cladding and roof cladding, as well as the weather-proofing of an adjoining building for the duration of the work.

A new toilet block if to be constructed, as well as a new footpath surrounding the building; the resurfacing, lining and signage of car parking area; and service connections to electricity, gas and broadband infrastructure.

The construction hours for the refurbishment work are to be restricted to between 8am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Roscommon County Council purchased the building for the project in 2017 and, the following year, obtained planning approval for its redevelopment through 'Part 8' planning process used for local authority projects.

"The building will be located in an industrial estate in close proximity to large local life science buildings and also adjacent to a planned new urban park for residents, workers and visitors to the area," a council spokesperson said this week.

"The facility will be part of an overall network of local thematic hubs along with Boyle, Ballaghaderreen and Castlerea," it was added.