Kildare arts centre redevelopment  still at planning stage

PLANS for the Newbridge Riverbank redesign project remain at an early stage, with funding currently secured only for the statutory planning phase, according to an update given at a recent meeting of Kildare-Newbridge MD.

In response to a question from cllr Noel Heavey, Kildare County Council confirmed that the Newbridge Riverbank Project has been approved to proceed to the Part 8 planning process. However, this approval is limited in scope and does not extend to detailed design or construction works.

The council stated that preparatory work is ongoing across departments to support the planning application. This includes compiling documentation and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements. The project is expected to move to public consultation in the third quarter of 2026.

Despite this progress, the council acknowledged that no funding has yet been identified for stages beyond the completion of the Part 8 process.

Current financial provisions cover only the planning phase, including preparation, assessment, and consultation.

A council official confirmed that the priority is to get the project “over the line” in terms of planning, and that all connected proposals are in need of funding – further explaining that each project proposed will have to go through separate public consultation phases.