Strategic Forward Planning, Tullamore Regeneration Framework Stage One
Whilst working with Brady Shipman Martin (BSM) I worked on the creation of a regeneration framework for Tullamore, the county town of Offaly in Ireland. This project sought to create an integrated design, planning, heritage, mobility and sustainability approach for this important town and urban centre. The tender brief stipulated eight pre-identified opportunity sites for the realisation of transformational change in the town. BSM acted as part of a multi-disciplinary team of planners, landscapers, architects, mobility specialists and destination marketers.
I undertook a comprehensive policy review to contextualise the project within Ireland's hierarchical national policy framework and to unform the wider team of how national policy goals translate to local efforts. I provided policy context and analysis drawing out strategic policy aims for the town to understand how our design approach could best align with available funding streams. I wrote sections of the report outlining our key findings and understanding of the town.
I assisted the Head of the Urban Design in baseline analysis information processes such as building land use survey collection, heritage asset identification, urban form and structure, mobility and movement assessments, green infrastructure mapping and architectural character assessment.
This physical assessment of the town included a Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities and Weaknesses (SCOT) analysis as well as best practice precedence assessment.
I was given the solo task of analysing the socio-demographic profile of the town using the most recent census data using various geographic scales; National, Regional, County and local level. This was structured broadly according to social context, employment and travel patterns and housing. Due to the release schedule of Ireland's most recent census results, this required a blending of data from the previous census year with the most recent census.
Census data was obtained from the Central Statistics Office and interpreted using excel. I then transferred these findings into a graphical report format using Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator with accompanying text.
Public Consultation Stage One
For Stage One public consultation I was tasked by the Head of the Urban Design Department to design an online survey to provide us with a qualitative understanding of the town's strengths and weaknesses. To inform the our survey I researched similar regeneration framework project's survey design before examining what information was most valuable to our design team. This was available to the public for three weeks in June of 2023.
This exploratory survey assessed qualitative aspects of life in Tullamore town to better understand areas of contention and pride within the community.
Following the closure of the survey, I was tasked by the Head of the Planning Department to analyse the responses received and create a graphical report.
Summary Pages of Public Consultation Survey Stage One.
This project is projected to be delivered in 2024 with the intention of bringing forth actionable and strategic projects for the local council to access funding streams to deliver on the ground.
