Town Centre First

The Government’s Town Centre First Policy (February 2022) is a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into town centres. The policy lays the foundation for towns to develop a tailored plan by a Town Team in collaboration with the Local Authority. The policy is underpinned by a multi-billion euro investment programme spread across Government schemes. The Sixmilebridge Town Centre First Plan will subsequently provide a basis for the town to seek support from funding streams such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Active Travel Fund and Historic Towns Initiative. Sixmilebridge is one of the early waves of towns to receive funding for a plan under the National Town Centre First Plan Initiative. Sixmilebridge was selected on the basis of successful community led initiatives to date, the challenges the town currently faces and the opportunities and potential that are unique to the town. The plan is developed within the context of national, regional and local plans and through careful consideration of best practice publications.