A number of transformative projects are currently in the pipeline to help regenerate Ardmore in County Waterford.

The town was identified by Waterford City and County Council as a priority to require significant public investment due to a number of factors including vacancy, dereliction, socio-economic performance and population decline.

As a result, the Department of Rural and Community Development approved €3,273,638 for the Ardmore Regeneration Project through its Rural Regeneration & Development Fund (RRDF).

This investment is being augmented by additional funding from Waterford City and County Council, bringing the total budget to €4,092,048. 

Various infrastructure projects are set to be carried out, including a new €1.3m Water Sports Facility (funded by Fáilte Ireland), car parking area, a new relief road, public realm works, pedestrian safety measures, flood protection improvements, a new public footpath connecting the town to the GAA sports field and refurbishment of the sandcastle building (public toilets and lifeguard station).

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The Water Sports Facility is designed to provide best-in-class facilities for water activity participants that will attract tourists 365 days a year and has the potential to further develop water-based activities such as kayaking, surfing, paddle boarding and sea swimming for all users. The tender process has been completed and work will start on site in February 2025.

The current proposal is fundamental to the council's and community's overall vision for the continued development of Ardmore in that it delivers critical pieces of enabling infrastructure by way of the relief road, parking for the Water Sports Facility, pedestrian safety measures, flood protection and public realm improvements which will directly facilitate and allow for the sustainable development and enhancement of the wider village.

The aim of the proposal is to create an extension of the village core, along the proposed relief road, in which people will live, connect and engage with their physical environment.

In addition to the delivery of the Water Sports Facility, the existing public toilets and lifeguard station located in the sandcastle building will be refurbished. Tendering for this work will be carried out over the next few weeks and works are expected to be complete by June 2025.

The land acquisition for the relief road and for future housing along the western side has been confirmed by An Bord Pleanála and this is the key to enabling the commencement of this exciting development for Ardmore. Detailed design of the relief road and public realm works can now commence.