Roscommon County Council has appointed Civic Engineers Ltd as lead consultants for the design and planning phase of the proposed €30 million Waterfront Park development at Hodson Bay in Athlone.

The contract signing took place this week, marking the formal commencement of the project's next stage. The project is being delivered by Roscommon County Council in partnership with Waterways Ireland and will be supported by €1.39 million in approved funding.

This funding will facilitate detailed design work, environmental assessments, economic analysis, and the preparation of planning consent documentation. Subject to the granting of planning permission, the project partners will seek to secure capital funding to advance the scheme to construction.

The development, situated along the Lough Ree shoreline, includes four key infrastructure elements. These consist of the construction of a high-quality waterfront promenade, alongside the design and planning of an expanded marina capable of accommodating approximately 50 additional berths. The scheme also provides for enhanced facilities to support a range of water-based activities such as boating and swimming. In addition, a revised access strategy is proposed to promote inclusive and sustainable movement throughout the redeveloped Hodson Bay area, with improved connectivity to the planned Lough Ree Greenway.

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Civic Engineers will lead the multidisciplinary consultancy team through the planning and consent phase. The estimated total value of the full scheme, subject to future funding and approvals, is €30 million.

Funding for the current phase includes €1.07 million from Fáilte Ireland under the EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme (2023–2026), with an additional €0.32 million in combined match funding from Roscommon County Council and Waterways Ireland.

Reacting to the news Paddy Mathews, Head of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands at Fáilte Ireland, said: "We're pleased to mark the beginning of this significant project at Hodson Bay Waterfront Park. By funding projects like Hodson Bay Waterfront Park, the EU Just Transition Fund is helping transform the tourism landscape in the Midlands.

"This creates more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit, sustaining jobs, businesses and local communities. Roscommon is a key destination in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands and we look forward to working closely with Roscommon County Council to deliver this project and support the sustainable development of tourism for the benefit of visitors and communities across the region."