Tuam area councillors have green-lit a €7 million transformation of Tuam Station House into an enterprise hub — and if plans stay on track, it is anticipated that the project could be completed by 2029.

An application to fund the project was lodged with the Northern and Western Regional Assembly last Friday morning — a total of €6.3 million is being sought from the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.

At a meeting of the Tuam Municipal District on Thursday last, councillors unanimously adopted the Executive’s recommendation to proceed with the project on Vicar Street after it was heard that there had been no public submissions, objections or observations made during the public consultation period.

The plans include for the demolition of some internal and external elements of the current structure to make way for office space and welfare facilities.

A new single-storey extension is to be added, to provide for an events space while inside a new two-storey extension, there will be a podcast room and a canteen.

Senior Executive Engineer, Ronan Conway, said a public consultation evening last February resulted in some changes to the design which he said improved on the original proposal.

Among the changes were the inclusion of a balcony space and the incorporation of the old water tower which would serve as a ‘feature’ in the finished development.

Cllr Carey McHugh Farag (Ind) said this development was hugely welcome but raised some concern about the number of parking spaces included.

“A few issues have arisen around parking and there is a legacy parking issue in the area. I wonder if there is any way to incorporate that?” she asked.

The existing parking at the station is being maintained and plans show a total of six spaces, two of which have been identified as disability parking.

Mr Conway said the Council was “working in the background” on the wider ‘Station Quarter’ plan and parking would form part of that.

“We will be presenting those plans to elected members in the coming months. The Station House is the catalyst for a wider project and we are hoping it will generate momentum and build a strong relationship with CIE,” said Mr Conway.

Cllr Shaun Cunniffe (Ind Irl) asked if the proposed layout of the hub was set in stone or could it be adapted to meet the needs of prospective occupants.

Mr Conway said they hoped to engage with potential occupants to get a sense of layout requirements, adding that by the time construction starts, the Council will have built up experience of similar rehabilitation projects.

“By the time we come to looking at the Station House, we will have built up experience n Portumna Workhouse and Loughrea Town Hall,” he said, adding that a senior position had recently been filled in the Council to manage and operate these buildings.

Cllr Mary Hoade (FF) said this project was a ‘game-changer’ for Tuam and noted that there was widespread support for it.

“It is so well designed. You took on board the views of elected members and the public and that’s why there were no submissions — people were listened to and engaged with,” she said.

Cllr Donagh Killilea (FF) asked if a timeline had been established for completion of the project but Mr Conway said commencement would depend on securing funding.

“The costings plan is somewhere in the region of €6.3 million. The Regional Assembly have a total pool of €33.5 million for eight participating local authorities,” he said.

He was confident funding would be secured and that detailed design could get underway by the end of summer.

“We are looking at maybe three-and-a-half years, realistically. If this was private sector, it would be half that but we have to work through procurement and approval gateways,” he said.

Pictured: How the new development will look.