This article is from page 29 of the 2008-04-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 29 JPG
AFTER just one year’s work, Ire- land’s first ever e-town has now opened in Miltown Malbay.
Those curious to see what the new homes – that promise work-life bal- ance – look like can go along and see for themselves this weekend.
The €4 million e-town project is the first of its kind in Ireland and construction work on the 12 com- bined home/work units in the scheme have just been completed.
The e-towns initiative will allow people to work from home and has been designed by Shannon Develop- ment as an innovative way of helping people find a better quality of life.
This unique integrated develop- ment combines living and office space with high-tech broadband ac- cess.
E-towns are not just for those wish- ing to find work and a lifestyle out- side the urban rat race. It also gives an opportunity to the students of Miltown Malbay to return home and set up a business when they have re- ceived their qualifications.
The e-town is expected to attract micro-businesses to the area and cluster them so that they in turn could grow from each other and pro- vide further employment.
“With many commuters facing reduced quality of life due to the ever lengthening commute times to work, Shannon Development saw the need to generate a new 2\st-century solution to this growing problem. In launching our first pilot e-town in Miltown Malbay, we feel it is an ideal location in which to live, work and raise a family. It has everything you could possibly want on your
doorstep, including stunning scen- ery, top local amenities and a superb quality of life,” says Paul Ryan, E- Town Project Leader with Shannon Development.
As part of the Cuirt na dTonnta Miltown Malbay e-towns project, people who want to work from home have the option of work units either attached or adjacent to each house on the two-acre, high-tech courtyard site. Developed as either detached, three story and/or town houses, the units are wired for broadband with office space. They are designed to aesthetically complement the exist- ing townscapes, the house sizes aver- age 2,000 sq. ft., with business units ranging from 750 to 1,000 sq. ft.
“The development is designed for people who currently have long com- mutes to work each day and wish to set up a business and could easily
work from home. It would ideally suit micro-businesses in the traded Services sector, or businesses such as graphic design, consultancy, web design, publishing and professional oss ohe
“It is also ideal for people who have already set up a business from home but find their current home is no longer suitable for their growing business needs,” said Mr. Ryan.
To introduce the scheme to the peo- ple of County Clare, Shannon Devel- opment has issued a special invitation to come and view an e-town house at Miltown Malbay at weekends from 2pm to 4pm or by appointment. Just contact Bernie Lynch at 061 710349 and email: lynchb@shannondev.ie.