Naas North-West Quadrant, County Kildare

The team selected for the estimated €400,000 contract will draw up an exemplar framework masterplan setting out design parameters and a pipeline of mixed-use developments for the ambitious urban extension which is the largest development project in County Kildare.

Keys aims of the project include consolidating Naas as a ‘coherent and integrated compact town that offers an excellent quality of life and an attractive place to live, work and visit’ and helping to unlock the settlement’s ‘commercial, civic, social, educational, and cultural potential.’

According to the brief: ‘Kildare County Council is calling for tender responses to develop a framework masterplan for Naas town's North-West Quadrant, the single largest development opportunity in County Kildare.

‘Kildare County Council's ambition is that this should be developed as a Sustainable Urban Expansion Area to Naas to bring a critical mass to the town and combine an appropriate mix of uses with a sustainable mobility strategy and excellence in urban design.’

Located west of Dublin, Naas is a historic county town with a population of around 26,180 residents. Local landmarks include St. David's church, the Canal Harbour (pictured) on Basin Street and the Perpetual Motion artwork on Naas bypass created by Rachel Joynt and Remco de Fouw.

Dublin-based Deaton Lysaght Architects won a competition to transform Naas Town Hall into a public library five years ago. The detached three-storey building was originally built as the town’s jail in the late 18th century, and converted into a town hall in 1904.

The North-West Quadrant project aims to draw on 10-minute neighbourhood principles to create a new urban settlement that encourages non-car modes and makes a ‘significant contribution to decarbonizing’ the town.

Key aims including creating an exemplar development that helps to ‘address the key challenges and opportunities faced by Ireland as a whole’ and providing new community infrastructure which benefits the entire settlement.

Applicants must hold employer’s liability insurance of €13 million, public liability insurance of €6.5 million and professional indemnity insurance of €1 million.