An Clochán Liath (Dungloe) Regeneration Strategy & Action Plan

An Clochán Liath’s (Dungloe) is a small town located on the west coast of Donegal. It is known as the capital of the Rosses Gaeltacht region and the town itself has many assets, including its attractive seaside and riverside setting, its relatively healthy and vibrant Main Street, its cultural and Gaeltacht heritage, its strong festival history and its strategic location as a ‘gateway/base’ to the wider Rosses. However in recent times the town has faced a number of particular challenges which are impacting on the town centre including the low quality public realm and lack of public spaces, vacancy and dereliction along Main Street, a declining youth population and a disconnect and overall failure to capitalise on the attractive waterfront.

GM Design Associates were commissioned by Donegal County Council to assist in the production of a Masterplan & Strategy with the aim of bringing about meaningful and long lasting renewal and regeneration within the town centre. Our study identifies a number ideas, actions and projects that, if implemented, will result in economic and social benefits and will help to secure a vibrant future for An Clochán Liath (Dungloe) as a destination town with a distinctive sense of place. The Regeneration Strategy/Plan provides a road map for the reinvention; re-imagining and place-making of the town centre that will help facilitate the unlocking of its unique potential including the high quality physical environment and exceptional cultural heritage, as well as its coastal and riverside setting. 

Our talented Architectural team includes RIBA & RIAI Chartered Architects, as well as CIAT Chartered Architectural Technologists – delivering everything from small residential extensions through to major commercial & industrial schemes, with a core focus on sustainability, innovation & providing our clients with service of the highest quality from inception to completion.

Our Architectural Services include but are not limited to:
· Site selection & appraisal
· Feasibility studies
· Residential & commercial development planning
· Procurement
· Historic buildings consent
· Funding Applications
· Statutory approvals
· Construction & contract management
· Design & build delivery
· Major & cyclical works programmes
· Condition surveys
· New build
· Refurbishment
· External works
· BIM (Building Information Modelling)

Our sectors:
·Hospitality
·Infrastructure/Commercial/Offices
·Community/Sport + Leisure
·Education
·Housing

As a Landscape Institute Registered Practice, the Practice offers a full landscape architecture design service from initial site analysis and concept design through to detailed design and construction information. Adopting a sustainable design approach, we incorporate the principles of biodiversity and ecological design in the implementation of all projects. Our landscape architectural services include but are not limited to:

· Landscape Architecture / Urban Design
· Landscape Masterplanning
· Public Realm
· Residential, commercial and mixed-use Landscapes
· Green / Blue Infrastructure / Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)
· Active travel, public greenways, paths, trails & parks
· Education, Hospital and University campuses
· Recreational Landscapes, Golf courses, sports facilities & children’s play areas
· Parking & access arrangements
· Wayfinding and public art
· Historic and Coastal Landscapes
· Bespoke Private gardens.
· Landscape & Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA)
· Expert witness for planning appeals / public enquiries
· Caravan, holiday parks & marinas
· Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
· Planting schedules, management & maintenance plans

The Practice has extensive expertise and exceptional experience in all areas of planning practice including:

Planning Appraisals & Site Feasibility
Planning Applications
Enforcement, provision of advice on regularising unauthorised development
Planning Appeals, Public Inquires and Area Plan. Preparation of written evidence and oral presentation at Appeals and Inquiries
Expert witness and licensing for legal hearings, appeals and public inquiries
Environmental impact assessment
Retail impact assessments
Renewable energy proposals including wind turbines, photovoltaics, etc
Brown field redevelopment & consideration of land contamination
Urban realm and regeneration
Strategic planning and master planning – for the co-ordinated and comprehensive development of large scale sites for residential,commercial and mixed-use developments

With over 30 years’ involvement in successfully leading construction projects from single dwellings to multi-million pound developments in all sections, the Practice has considerable project management experience in consistently delivering a wide range of high quality public, private and commercial developments.

Backed by an experienced administration team, the Practice achieves timely decision making, monitoring and feedback from projects such as busy primary schools to fast track commercial developments, all in accordance with our accredited office procedures and methods of working. Our Quality, Environment and Health & Safety Management Systems are all externally certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 respectively. These accreditations are annually audited to ensure company compliance.

We use the Government’s Achieving Excellence in Construction along with the NEC Philosophy of Risk Management as tools to best ensure projects are completed safely to the client’s brief, on time, on budget and with measured performance standards.

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