The Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative has won at the National Planning Awards.
The project, led by Donegal County Council, won an Urban Regeneration & Heritage Award for its work in refurbishing and regenerating historic buildings in the seaside town.
A total of 19 buildings in Ballyshannon had conservation works carried out on them in 2021 and 2022, to preserve the buildings into the future with structural and other repairs, while also giving them a spruce-up.
The Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative was a partnership between Donegal County Council, Ballyshannon Regeneration Group, Dedalus Architecture, local property owners, The Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, and Local Government & Heritage.
“It’s great to see our heritage-led approach to the Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative recognised at these awards” said Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.
“This initiative emphasises that we need to be more ambitious, set much higher standards and be more collaborative in our approach to the conservation of built heritage in our towns and villages. The destruction and replacement of historic buildings is not a sustainable or responsible approach and robs our towns and villages of part of their character. Our historic built environment is durable, adaptable, attractive and fit-for-purpose. The conservation of our historic buildings and streetscapes also provide opportunities for upskilling contractors, developing traditional skills, providing employment and creating places of employment. What the Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative has shown is that the loss of historic character, built heritage fabric and even our historic buildings themselves need not, and should not, be the price we have to pay for progress. The property owners in Ballyshannon, our partners in this initiative, recognise that their ambitions for their buildings and their town can be addressed with a heritage-led approach that places community engagement and built heritage conservation at its core. Our approach to the treatment of our historic buildings and streetscapes is rooted in best conservation practice, enlists traditional building skills, protects the historic fabric and aesthetic of our built environment, and is responsible in terms of economic and climate considerations.”
