Athy needs more industrial space

BUSINESSES in Athy want to expand, a council meeting has heard. At July’s meeting of Athy Municipal District (MD), cllr Brian Dooley asked the council to consider the development of zoned industrial development lands in Athy to provide ‘much needed’ industrial space and warehousing to attract and support new businesses seeking units in the MD. 

Jacqui McNabb, head of economic development and enterprise, issued a report explaining that the local authority doesn’t have the funding required to purchase industrial zoned lands and provide industrial space in Athy. ‘However, the council have applied to the Just Transition Fund for funding to commission a site search assessment and technical feasibility study for the development of Kildare Low Carbon Enterprise Zone in Athy,’ she stated. ‘The progression of this project, by the council, will be dependent on a positive outcome from this application or other source of capital funding becoming available.’ Cllr Dooley explained that businesses are running out of space.