A new vision for Clara presented in Town First Draft Plan
Urban Architects were appointed by Offaly County Council to support the Town Team in designing a plan which would take Clara into the future.
Four key themes emerged during public consultations, Community; Heritage Tourism; Natural Infrastructure and Placemaking.
The strategic aims for Clara include reinforcing the town centre as the heart of the town by avoiding undesirable and inefficient sprawl.
Harnessing the economic and employment generating potential of the town through the on-going development of the service and manufacturing sectors in the town, in particular the Lehinch Business Park, and facilitating new enterprises within the zoned and serviced areas of the town. Delivering high quality housing of a sufficient scale, mix, tenure, sequence and density.
The reimagining of a number of historical buildings in the town and their potential uses are put forward with many ideas emerging. These include a third level education centre, an enterprise centre, a large convenience retail store and a covered market space.
Clara was one of 26 towns across the country to receive funding to develop a town centre first plan.