Major boost as €850,000 secured for regeneration of Butts area in Kilkenny City

Funding of €850,000 has been made available for a comprehensive regenearation plan for the Butts area in Kilkenny City.

The need to review fully the structures, services and amenities in the area has been raised by residents and local elected representatives for many years, and officials of Kilkenny County Council submitted a proposal to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which has now been successful. The funding will allow the local authority to carry out a detailed assessment of the area and to engage fully with residents to determine what measures could best benefit the community now living there.

The Butts Community is one of the oldest, estate type communities, in Kilkenny City and was built at a time when families didn’t have cars, work was close by and large rear gardens grew vegetables. If constructed today, it would most likely be designed very differently to meet the requirements of modern family living.

Funding in the amount of €850,000 has been made available to prepare a detailed plan of actions for the Butts area Regeneration and preparations to begin that process are under way.

“This is a unique opportunity to do a detailed analysis of the views of people, the needs and opportunities in the area and to prepare plans to deliver real change for the Butts," said Mayor of Kilkenny Joe Malone.

An outline of the process to be involved in the preparation of a plan for the Butts Area Regeneration was provided to the elected members of Kilkenny City Municipal District on Friday and engagement with residents will commence as early as possible.

The project will be led by the Town Regeneration Officer, Annette Fitzpatrick and will represent a community engagement project supported by design and planning to deliver real town centre first regeneration.