Galway City Council has reached a major milestone in its relocation project following the appointment of a contractor to oversee the fit-out of its new administrative headquarters at Crown Square. Construction at the Monivea Road site is expected to commence in the coming weeks.

The local authority has secured a €15 million loan to finance the core fit-out programme, which is projected to last 43 weeks. Current timelines estimate that the first departments will begin moving into the facility in late 2026, with the council aiming for full occupation by early 2027.

The move to Crown Square will centralise Galway City Council's operations, bringing staff from four separate office sites into a single location for the first time. This consolidation is designed to improve service delivery to the public and foster more efficient internal working practices. By moving to the new site, the Council will also avoid an estimated €69 million expenditure required to refurbish and extend the existing City Hall, which has been deemed no longer fit for purpose.

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The new civic offices have been designed to high environmental standards, targeting LEED Platinum certification and meeting Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) requirements. The facility will feature upgraded audiovisual systems, modern public access points, and dedicated spaces for civic events.

While vacating its current headquarters at College Road, the Council will retain ownership of the four-acre site. The land is intended to be part of a future master plan for mixed-use development, which could generate further funding for council services.

Chief Executive Leonard Cleary said: "Appointing the contractor following a full procurement process allows us to move into the final phase of delivering a modern workspace for the organisation. By bringing our staff to one central location, Crown Square will strengthen collaboration and support better services for the people of Galway City. I want to acknowledge the work of staff across the organisation and the Heads of Function Team, whose ongoing commitment has driven the project to this stage. We look forward to seeing the building take shape over the coming months as we prepare for occupation in late 2026."

To manage the transition, the Council has established three dedicated workstreams focusing on the fit-out, the physical move, and the organisational changes required to support customers, staff, and Elected Members. Initial staff site visits to the development took place in early February.