THRIVE

Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme (THRIVE)

THRIVE IS co funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-27

THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme – was launched by the Minister of State for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD on February 8th 2024.  The scheme is run under Ireland’s two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes and is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

Targeting NPF and RSES designated settlements – the region’s key towns, strategic growth centres and cities – THRIVE supports local authorities and their citizens to reimagine town and urban centres and to transform publicly-owned vacant or derelict buildings within those centres through renovation, renewal and adaptive reuse.

THRIVE promotes a citizen-centred community-led approach to planning and design under the Town Centre First framework and supports projects that embrace the core values of the New European Bauhaus – sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion.

THRIVE offers 100% grants to local authorities under two strands:

Strand 1: Grant amounts of between €40K and €200K towards integrated urban strategies and project pipeline development

Strand 2: Grant amounts of between €2M and €7M towards the renovation and adaptive reuse of vacant or derelict heritage buildings in public control or ownership

Three calls have been issued under the THRIVE programme to date. The first call in February 2024 under Strand 1 and Strand 2 and a second call in January 2025 under Strand 2.

THRIVE Strand 1

Cork City Council submitted an application under THRIVE Strand 1 in 2024 in respect of an Integrated Urban Strategy for the Shandon area. This application was successful and funding of €198,838 was approved by the Southern Regional Assembly as Managing Authority for the Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027.

The Shandon Integrated Urban Strategy (IUS) is the first undertaken by Cork City Council in line with the innovative ‘Town Centre First’ methodology. The IUS was drafted in partnership with the Shandon Neighbourhood Team and Consultancy Team, and followed extensive consultation including two consultation events, an online survey, and targeted engagements with local businesses, schools and community groups. The interactive storymap which was created to provide information throughout the Shandon IUS process can be viewed here

Shandon Integrated Urban Strategy Document

Flipping Book PDF Downloadable

The Shandon IUS identifies 36 actions under the four themes of Heritage, Living Neighbourhood & Climate Resilience, Community & Arts and Business & Tourism. The actions range from small to larger scale interventions which can be progressed by a number of identified stakeholders including Cork City Council directorates, public sector bodies, community groups and associations, charitable organisations and business groups. Successful implementation will rely on continued community support and action, Cork City Council leadership, several funding streams and sustained private investment.

Amongst the actions set out in the Shandon IUS, are several strategic regeneration proposals which emerged as priorities through the consultation process:

• The Butter Market and Weighmaster’s House Complex
• St Anne's Church and Dr Mary Hearn Parks
• The Revitalisation of Shandon Street

Any specific queries on the Shandon Integrated Urban Strategy may be sent to shandonIUS@corkcity.ie

THRIVE Strand 2 - Call 2

THRIVE Strand 2 Call 2 was announced on 16th January 2025 with a deadline for submission of applications 15th April 2025. Cork City Council submitted an application in respect of the Butter Market and Weighmaster’s House Complex. In September 2025, it was announced that the submission was successful, and that Cork City Council was awarded €7 million in funding. The historic Butter Market and Weighmaster’s House will be restored and reimagined as Shandon Exchange – a landmark enterprise and community hub.

This €7 million award represents the largest single investment in Shandon in a generation, made possible under the THRIVE Scheme.

The Butter Market Complex emerged as the highest priority strategic regeneration proposal in Cork City Council’s Integrated Urban Strategy for Shandon (Shandon IUS), published in March 2025.

Shandon Exchange will act as a catalyst for innovation, partnership and community development in an area of Cork City that has been underserved for some time.

The project sets out to refurbish the complex, transforming it into a publicly accessible building of heritage value to best conservation practice while giving it a new purpose as an enterprise, community and creative space, applying flexibility to maximise the opportunities for integrated as well as independent usage and operation by a range of users.

Shandon Exchange will deliver real outcomes for Cork City and the Southwest Region – new jobs, thriving start-up incubation spaces and programming, and stronger links between business, the local community, universities and industry. By providing cutting-edge studios, incubation space, workspaces and community facilities in a restored landmark, this project will create a vibrant hub of activity within walking distance of the City Centre.

Owned by Cork City Council, the complex will be operated by Recreate Shandon CLG, who will manage the facilities and deliver programming for Shandon Exchange - Enterprise & Community Hub. Construction on the complex is expected to commence in Q3 2026.

For further information, please contact the Cork City Council THRIVE Team at thrive@corkcity.ie