Initial works have begun on a new Digital Hub in Athlone as Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) progresses a major town centre regeneration project on Northgate Street.
The development will see the transformation of the prominent site through a two-stage project delivered by TUS and Westmeath County Council.
The first stage of the project – which is being supported by a 930,000 euro allocation from the Just Transition Fund Programme – will involve enabling works, including the removal of more recent buildings on the site while retaining and protecting a historic 19th-century building that formed part of the original Athlone workhouse complex.
The works will also include securing and carrying out essential repairs to the protected former workhouse administration building.
A planning application for the main development is expected to be lodged in 2026, with funding to be sought through national regeneration and innovation programmes.
The overall development is intended to provide the physical environment and infrastructure to support multiple functions, including business, higher education, research and community engagement.
The Digital Hub is intended to provide flexible space for collaboration, enterprise and digital innovation, strengthening links between education, industry and the wider community, while also contributing to the ongoing regeneration of Athlone town centre. The project has undergone environmental and ecological screening, with no significant impacts identified.
Commenting on the project, Jimmy Browne, Chief Operations Officer, TUS, said:
“This project responds to a clear need for flexible, high-quality space that supports digital innovation, enterprise and collaboration.
“As a key part of the TUS Campus Development Plan 2025–2040, the proposed Digital Hub will support students, researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses, while strengthening TUS’s engagement with Athlone and the wider region.
“It represents important infrastructure for the town and demonstrates strong collaboration with Westmeath County Council to enhance Athlone and support regional growth.”
The project builds on the previous public consultation carried out in 2024 and reflects TUS’s commitment to sustainable development, adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, and regional growth.
Welcoming the commencement of works, Cllr. Vinny McCormack, Mayor of Athlone, said:
“I am delighted to see these initial works get under way on Northgate Street. This is a site of real historic significance, having formed part of the original Athlone workhouse complex, and its location at the heart of the town centre makes it ideally placed to drive regeneration and economic activity. The Digital Hub has the potential to be truly transformative for Athlone and the wider midlands region, creating a space where education, enterprise and innovation can come together. I welcome the ongoing collaboration between TUS and Westmeath County Council in bringing this project forward.”
Further details on the project, including the specific uses of the hub, will be confirmed as the planning process progresses.
