This article is from page 33 of the 2007-11-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
THE first new families are expected in Miltown Malbay in the New Year as they begin a new life in Ireland’s first e-town.
The pilot project overseen by Shan- non Development will give a “turn key” working and living space for families and single people wishing to avoid the rat race and set up busi- ness in the west Clare town.
The 12-unit e-town is expected to attract micro business to the area and cluster them so that they in turn could grow from each other and pro- vide further employment.
So far more than half of the units are “committed” or provisionally
booked by interested people.
The houses are expected to be com- pleted next month and ready for oc- cupation early in 2008.
The population of the town of Mil- town Malbay is about 1,000 people with another 3,000 in the area.
In partnership with the local au- thorities, local communities and the Ibrickane network Shannon Devel- Opment is pioneering this new rural town renewal initiative, a €4 million investment by the development com- er aN VA
Among the many attractions likely to entice people to the west Clare town and its e-town are the nine pri- mary schools and secondary school in the area.
It also has a vibrant community, surfing, golf, drama, Irish music classes, créche facilities, 15 bars, and a dozen restaurants within a couple of miles, and the sea.
It is just 30 minutes from Ennis and less than an hour from Shannon In- Kou IteLelOit-) aU bu ole am
The primary aim of the pioneering approach of the e-town is to enable people to achieve a life/work balance in tailor-made accommodation, cre- ate clusters of businesses and bring new economic activity back into lo- cal communities.
Miltown Malbay has a hard work- ing community and a history of in- dustry, which made it attractable for this project.
The success of the project is now pointing the way to other towns around the country.
Shannon Development, last week lodged a planning application for full planning permission for the de- velopment of eight live/work houses on a 1.3 acre site on the Ferry Road in Tarbert, County Kerry.
The application for planning per- mission, which if successful, will allow construction work on the €2m project to commence early next year.
In addition to the Miltown Malbay and ‘Tarbert e-towns, Shannon De- velopment is working on rolling the e-towns concept out in other rural lo- cation around the Shannon region.