Ireland’s THRIVE programme – sustainable, inclusive and aesthetic urban regeneration

The Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme, better known as THRIVE, is a transformative grant programme for local authorities under Ireland’s two ERDF Regional Programmes. Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union and co-designed by the Regional Assemblies and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, THRIVE is part of a broader strategy under EU Cohesion Policy to regenerate towns and urban centres, especially through the adaptive reuse of vacant or derelict heritage buildings. To date €120m funding has been awarded to local authorities under THRIVE.

THRIVE’s design and application strongly align with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) concept, which is built around a triangle of core values: sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion. Projects are evaluated against these values, and applicants must demonstrate how they will foster sustainability, beauty and inclusive participation from the earliest planning stages.

How THRIVE Embeds NEB Values and Principles in Regeneration Planning

Embedding NEB through Capacity-Building and Tools

A central route through which THRIVE embeds NEB values is via capacity-building events. In November 2024, the European Urban Initiative (EUI) in conjunction with the Regional Assemblies hosted a two-day workshop in Limerick (“Building the Future -integrating NEB values and principles in heritage regeneration under THRIVE”) for representatives from local authorities across Ireland.

This capacity-building event included hands-on use of the NEB Compass, Toolkit and Dashboard, enabling practitioners to design, implement and monitor projects through the lens of sustainability, beauty, and participation. It also incorporated study visits hosted by Limerick City and County Council, such as the Opera Square development, Cleeves Riverside Quarter, and the Medieval Mile Museum, showcasing how a balance between heritage, public realm activation, and aesthetic quality can be achieved. In addition, there were peer exchanges with European experts and case studies of good NEB practice from EU and national projects (e.g. the Rediscovery Centre in Dublin, Nano Nagle Place in Cork, Kilkenny Medieval Mile Museum). The event provided opportunities for dialogue among practitioners, Regional Assembly staff, heritage and conservation officers, and Commission representatives on how to weave NEB values into THRIVE applications and projects.

This training ensured that NEB values and principles become embedded from the earliest stage of project design, rather than merely decorative add-ons. It fostered familiarity with tools and frameworks that ensure NEB is a driver of outcomes, not an after-thought.

Credit: Southern Regional Assembly

Public participation, inclusion, and “bottom-up” design

The NEB core value of inclusion requires that regeneration is citizen-centred, participatory, accessible and socially integrated. In Shandon, Cork City, public engagement sessions were held to reimagine the reuse for the Butter Exchange and Weighmasters House in the historic quarter. Through storytelling workshops and walking audits, residents voiced preferences for public, cultural and youth-centred uses. The co-design process allowed heritage to become a community tool rather than a planning constraint.

In George’s Place, Dún Laoghaire, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council led a participatory visioning initiative involving local business owners, artists and disability advocates to shape an inclusive use for the George’s Place and Wash House Project. Key outcomes included universal design features, public art integration and accessible indoor-outdoor space.

In King’s Island, Limerick, planners incorporated input from diverse stakeholders—including housing associations, historians and local school groups—into plans to regenerate The Fireplace Site, in King’s Island, a prominent medieval structure. NEB principles ensured the project emphasised cultural continuity, sense of place identity and public participation and accessibility.

This participatory design approach results in projects that feel rooted in local identity, encourage social ownership, and foster longer-lasting inclusion.

Aesthetics and public realm vitality

The NEB core value of aesthetics concerns attention to beauty, style, sensory experience, and sense of place. Under THRIVE, restored heritage buildings are often designed to spill out into public spaces, activating streets, squares or quays with uses like cafés, galleries, studios or civic amenities. In Ennis, Co Clare, the proposed restoration of The Cloister seeks to re-establish the building as a multi-use community space. This project showcases how a historically significant structure can be reimagined to enhance urban vibrancy. The project emphasises high-quality design and public accessibility, reintegrating the building into the social and cultural fabric of the town while complementing the surrounding streetscape and public realm.

Similarly, the proposed renovation of the Carnegie Library in Kilkenny is a strong model of sensitive refurbishment. Through its adaptive reuse, the library seeks to maintain historical integrity while integrating modern amenities, delivering a welcoming and visually engaging public facility and bio-diverse public realm meeting space that reflects both past and future aspirations of the community.

Credit: Southern Regional Assembly

Sustainability and heritage-led circularity

Sustainability in NEB includes climate resilience, circular economy, biodiversity, and energy efficiency.

While much of THRIVE focuses on reusing and retrofitting existing buildings (an inherently circular practice), capacity-building emphasised how to integrate further environmental enhancements—such as sustainable materials, energy-efficient retrofits, rainwater management in gardens, and climate-adapted design—alongside historic preservation. In Longford, the proposed reuse of Connolly Barracks exemplifies this principle. The project integrates sustainable energy solutions and green infrastructure while preserving the architectural and military heritage of the site. Plans include passive design approaches, solar-panel retrofits, and reuse of salvaged masonry and low-carbon cement.

Similarly, Westgate House in Drogheda, County Louth, demonstrates a strong approach to heritage-led circularity. The regeneration strategy focuses on retaining key structural elements while using low-impact materials and modern insulation techniques. Public engagement also helped inform sustainable uses, ensuring longevity and community relevance.

THRIVE beneficiaries are encouraged to consider multi-benefit outcomes: reduced vacancy, lower embodied carbon, restored cultural capital, accessible public space, and long-term urban resilience.

Credit: Southern Regional Assembly

NEB-Infused THRIVE capital projects already underway

Cork County Council was awarded €7m under THRIVE to restore Mallow Town Hall into a 200-seat theatre and multi-use arts centre. The design ensures accessibility, inclusivity, universal design principles and that the building will be beautiful while retaining the original character and aligning with the values and principles of the New European Bauhaus.  The project will democratise access to this cultural amenity ensuring that diverse segments of society can partake in and enjoy the creative endeavours at Mallow Town Hall Theatre.

Waterford City and County Council was awarded €7m under THRIVE to regenerate the largest early 18th century townhouse in Waterford, on one of the oldest streets in Waterford City’s Viking Triangle. 18 Lady Lane will be converted into a visitor attraction – Tir na nÓg @ Lady Lane – the land of young people to create a magical journey of discovery celebrating children’s past, present and future while conserving the original fabric and decorative internal features of the building to ensure authenticity is retained in line with the New European Bauhaus values and principles.

Wexford County Council was awarded €7m for the adaptive reuse of Gorey Market House, the oldest building in Gorey town centre. The co-created design of the Market House and public realm plaza has ensured that it will be fully accessible and affordable to all; inclusive to everyone, particularly vulnerable groups; celebrate diversity; and foster a sense of pride. In line with the New European Bauhaus values and principles, the shared architectural cultural approach will be an exemplar for shared placemaking, which is sensitive to the cultural context.

Meath County Council was awarded €7m for town-centre regeneration centred on St Finian’s Seminary Study Hall to convert this building into a new Community Hub and County Archive.  The public realm will be restored in line with the natural gradient of the space to create a natural amphitheatre and along with the renovated hand ball alley which will provide outdoor space for cultural and artistic performances and events. The project will prioritise the preservation of the existing building fabric and will embrace sustainable construction practices throughout the renovation.

Galway County Council was awarded €3.5m under THRIVE to regenerate Nun’s Island Theatre and Church House into a multi-purpose creative hub. This project will consolidate Galway Arts Centre’s position as a key resource for artists and as Galway’s ‘go to’ venue for emerging theatre and performing companies; by providing space at affordable rates to enable Galway’s artists to bring their projects to stage; and by nurturing amateur artists through our comprehensive youth-led programme.

Credit: Southern Regional Assembly

Conclusion

THRIVE illustrates how funding programmes can serve as a catalyst for change, embedding vision, innovation and ambition into local regeneration—and the New European Bauhaus offers precisely the approach needed. THRIVE projects in Mallow, Waterford, Gorey, Navan and Galway demonstrate the three cornerstones of NEB: sustainability (environmental regeneration), aesthetics (enhancing beauty and sense of place), and inclusion (co-design, citizen engagement, accessibility).

Aided by the EUI’s and Regional Assemblies’ capacity-building initiatives in Limerick, the rollout of NEB tools (Compass, Dashboard, Toolkit), mandatory participatory processes and heritage-led design, THRIVE is shaping a more beautiful, sustainable and inclusive future for Ireland’s town-centres.

As these early projects advance through design, implementation, and reuse, they will become increasingly powerful living labs, inspiring wider adoption of NEB-aligned planning across other towns and cities. THRIVE isn’t just restoring buildings—it’s nurturing a new design ethos in Irish town regeneration, born at the intersection of Europe’s green vision and local vibrancy.