BRIEF‍

CSR led the development of the Skibbereen Town Centre First Regeneration Plan, a comprehensive and visionary strategy aimed at breathing new life into the heart of Skibbereen. Commissioned to guide the town’s sustainable growth, CSR brought its expertise in urban design, planning and landscape architecture to deliver a place-based, action-oriented plan grounded in the principles of climate resilience, community wellbeing and heritage preservation.

CSR’s role involved facilitating a multi-staged public consultation process in collaboration with A Playful City. These events, designed to be inclusive and engaging, brought together local residents, the Town Team and the local authority to ensure the plan responded directly to the specific needs, opportunities and constraints of Skibbereen. Community input was central to shaping the vision and the detailed proposals, reinforcing CSR’s commitment to co-design and participatory planning.

CONCEPT‍

The outcome was a robust and ambitious plan structured around key strategic themes: Movement & Connections, Nature, Landscape & Environment, Land Use, Economy & Tourism, Social, Community & Culture and Built Form & Heritage. Within these themes, CSR identified thirty-seven individual projects, providing a clear roadmap for implementation by various stakeholders.

The plan sets out a long-term vision of Skibbereen as a sustainable market town that values its natural environment, riverside setting, historic built fabric and strong sense of community. It envisions a town centre that supports diverse, locally rooted businesses and high-quality housing, underpinned by accessible, climate-conscious infrastructure and enhanced public amenities.

By placing people and place at the centre of its approach, CSR has delivered a plan that not only addresses immediate challenges but also lays the groundwork for a resilient, inclusive and thriving future for Skibbereen.
‍

Highly Commended - Urban Design
2024 Irish Landscape Institute (ILI) Awards