The rejuvenation of Tralee Town Centre West and the former Denny bacon factory at the Island of Geese in Tralee has taken another step forward with the appointment of consultants to draw up a master-plan for the 2.3 acre site.

Reddy Architecture + Urbanism have been tasked with identifying options for the strategic site which was gifted to the people of Tralee by Kerry Group in 2014. Reddy will be required to assess how best to utilise the site while incorporating a number of guiding principles including:

• Stimulating economic growth and job creation in the town
• Enhancement of the physical fabric of the area
• Promoting the regeneration of Tralee Town Centre West
• Ensuring the area is vibrant and socially inclusive
• Retaining a minimum of 30% of the site for public realm/amenity space

The consultants are also being asked to take into consideration the almost 800 submissions received during the consultation process carried out by Kerry County Council last summer and submissions received during the subsequent statutory consultation process. They will also be required to take into account existing Council policies and plans as they relate to Tralee to ensure strategic and development cohesion.

The drawing up of the master-plan will involve further statutory public consultation including a call for submissions on a draft plan before it is finalised. It is anticipated that the final plan will be submitted to councillors in the Tralee Municipal District by the end of the year.

Meanwhile and separately, the demolition and clearance of the former factory buildings and the site itself will take place over the summer with a contractor due to be appointed in the coming weeks and demolition and clearance to be completed by year end. The red-brick chimney on site which was a centrepiece of the factory and is of historical and heritage value will be retained.

Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Terry O’Brien welcomed the latest phase of the project: “Having been through a very comprehensive consultation period and having listened closely to the people of Tralee, we are now moving to the next exciting stage of this development.

“By year end, the site should be cleared and the master-plan for its redevelopment should be in place. I am confident that this master-plan will deliver a series of ideas and solutions to maximise the use of this iconic and central location.

“This project is a hugely exciting one for Tralee and Kerry as a whole and offers enormous potential for the rejuvenation of the Island of Geese and the town generally,” he said.