Work to begin on 'best in class' water sports facility in Waterford town

Work is to start next month on a new multi-million euro water sports facility which is designed to attract tourists to the seaside town of Ardmore in County Waterford.

The town was previously identified by the local authority as one of the priority towns in County Waterford that required significant public investment due to a number of factors including vacancy, dereliction, socio-economic performance and population decline.

Funding of €1.3million was received under Fáilte Ireland’s Platforms for Growth Scheme to develop a water sports facility which, the council says, will provide best in class facilities for both the local community and visitors taking part in water activities.

Confirming that works are to get underway in the coming weeks, the local authority says the facility was a catalyst project which enabled it to secure further funding through the Rural Regeneration & Development Fund to deliver a suite of much- needed infrastructural projects in the town centre.

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The first phase of projects to be delivered include:

* New relief road

* Car parking area

* Public realm works

* A new Water Sports Facility (funded by Fáilte Ireland)

* A new public footpath connecting the town to the GAA sports field

* Refurbishment of sandcastle building (public toilets and Lifeguard Station)

Waterford City and County Council says many of these projects had been long term objectives for Ardmore and for the first time there is a funding source available to make these possible.

"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," said a spokesperson who added that the tender process has been completed and that work will start on site during February/

The Department of Rural and Community Development has approved €3,273,638 for the Ardmore Regeneration Project through its Rural Regeneration & Development Fund and this investment is being augmented by additional funding from the local authority bringing the total budget to €4,092,048. 

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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. 

This is Phase One of the Town Centre First Plan for Ardmore; the plan is being finalised at the moment and will be presented to Council for adoption in February.