Developer Seán Mulryan has said he believes a plan to turn Athlone into Ireland's first green city by 2040 is a logical solution to the infrastructure challenges facing Ireland, and more specifically Dublin.
Mr Mulryan, the CEO of Ballymore Property Group, alongside a delegation from the company and a steering group, presented the 'Athlone Green City Vision' to councillors on Roscommon County Council.
As the west side of Athlone is in Roscommon, local councillors were today briefed on the plan.
In November last year councillors from Westmeath County Council also received a presentation on the plan which proposes turning Athlone into Ireland's first green sustainable city, as well as a hub of innovation.
The plan sets out to increase the population from around 23,000 to 50,000 people by 2040 and expanding the TUS university campus to facilitate 25,000 students.
It will be a city powered by 90% renewable energy, said developer Sean Mulryan and new infrastructure will be built for electric driverless buses, EVs, bikes, and pedestrians.
The city is based on the 15-minute city model, a planning concept in which most daily necessities and services, such as work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure can be easily reached by a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit journey from any point in the city.
The plan also proposes the construction of a 5,000-bed eco-friendly student village.
20,000 zero-carbon homes are also form part of the plan, as well as new health, educational, arts and sporting facilities.
The plan also proposes that 5,000 hectares of surrounding land is allocated for rewilded wetlands, callows and rewetting of bog.
Councillors at today's meeting heard that the plan, which is eight years in the making, has been discussed at the highest level within the Government which is supportive of the plan.
The meeting heard how this plan should be a state-backed project.
Mr Mulryan told the meeting this "not a Ballymore project".
He urged councillors to "put pressure" on the Government to progress the plan, saying the "future is in their hands".
Investment is to be secured from private and public sources, including national and EU funds, where available, the meeting heard.
Councillors raised questions around demand on existing utility services and also around the cost of the project.
Mr Mulryan said during a meeting with the Taoiseach he gave him a rough figure of "a billion a year for the first five years".
In terms of density, Mr Mulryan described it as a "medium density city".
The company said today that the presentation to Roscommon County Council forms an important milestone in its ongoing engagement process.
In a statement, it said: "Roscommon is a strategic stakeholder due to its proximity to Athlone and strong social, economic and commuting links.
"The purpose of the session is to communicate the Athlone Green City Vision clearly, outline the regional opportunities it presents, demonstrate alignment with Roscommon's development objectives, and invite feedback and collaboration as the project moves into its next phase."
Mr Mulryan has assembled a steering group to liaise with Government, state agencies, educational institutions, industry chiefs and others to bring this new green city to life.
The group comprises of Josephine Feehily, Chairperson of the Governing Body of Technological University of the Shannon, and former Executive Chair of the Revenue Commissioners; Adrian Jones, Chairman & Co-Head of Global Private Equity at Goldman Sachs; Joan Kehoe, founder and CEO at Alchelyst; Prof. Brian MacCraith, Senior Advisor to the President of Arizona State University (ASU), and former President of DCU; Jim Meade, CEO at Irish Rail and Linda Mulryan-Condron, Deputy Managing Director at Ballymore.
