Sligo County Council has been awarded a ‘highly commended’ prize in the Design Category of the Irish Planning Institute awards 2019-2020 for its 2018 Public Realm Plan.
IPI Awards 2019-2020
IPI Awards 2019-2020
Sketch of Market Street
The ‘Design’ category rewards the best in design from urban design or public realm plans to individual projects which respond to their context in an urban or rural setting.
Minister Eoghan Murphy and IPI President Conor Norton presented the award at the ceremony in the Westin Hotel on the 27th February.
The theme of this year’s awards was ‘Celebrating Excellence and Innovation in Irish Planning’. Speaking at the awards, IPI President Dr Conor Norton said “the IPI Planning Awards celebrate success in planning and the 2020 awards saw an increase in both the quantity and quality of projects considered. “
Sligo County Council’s vision for Sligo city is that of a 'compact liveable city for people', with a self-contained vibrant core and safe, attractive streets. Essential to the achievement of a ‘vibrant core’ and a ‘city experience’ is a pleasant and engaging public realm where people want to spend time.
To realize this vision, in February 2018, Building Design Partnership (BDP) was commissioned to prepare a public realm plan for Sligo.
One aim of the Public Realm Plan was to promote a coordinated approach to any works within the town centre. The Plan also proposed improvements to Sligo’s public spaces, including streets and car parks in order to enhance the town as an attractive place in which to live, work and visit, encouraging people to explore, businesses to flourish and creating a vibrant street scene.
Preparing the Plan is the first step in the rejuvenation of Sligo and marks a new era of heightened awareness of the importance of good quality design in our public spaces and streets.
Implementation of the Plan is a priority for Sligo County Council and will take place incrementally (as resources permit) over the next few years.
The other winners were:
| Category | Winner | Project |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Making | Eastern Midlands Regional Assembly | Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy |
| Participation and Engagement | Laois County Council and Avison Young | Portlaoise 2040 and beyond |
| Design (public sector) | Galway City Council with Allies and Morrison | Galway Public Realm Strategy |
| Design (private sector) | Ballymore | Dublin Landings Project |
| Planning and Economic Development Award | Cork County Council and Research & Dig | Muscrai Heritage Plan |
| Management and Delivery | Limerick City & County Council | Living Georgian City Project |
| Planning Workplace of the Year | Dublin City Council | |
| Climate Change | McCutcheon Halley | Lidl Ireland Rooftop Solar Installation |
| Category | Winner | Project |