Shaping the Future of Newtownmountkennedy: A Town Team’s Vision for Growth and Community

The Town Team in Newtownmountkennedy is shaping one of Ireland’s fastest-growing towns with a community-led plan for vibrant streets, green spaces, and local services

Once a quiet village, Newtownmountkennedy is now one of Ireland’s fastest-growing towns, having expanded by over 60% in recent years. With rapid development comes responsibility, and the local community is stepping up to ensure the town grows in a way that benefits everyone.

Enter the Newtownmountkennedy Town Team, a group of residents, business owners, and volunteers who came together just over a year ago with a shared goal: to help shape the town’s future.

“We knew that our town was changing fast, and we wanted to be part of that change, not just watch it happen,” says Sarah Flynn from the Town Team. “Our focus is on ensuring that the heart of our town—main street, public spaces, and community infrastructure—keeps pace with this growth.”

The Town Team has partnered with ACT, a social enterprise of architects and designers, to co-create a master plan that reflects the community’s voice. Through public workshops, surveys, and walkabouts, locals have shared their experiences and concerns, from traffic congestion to the need for youth spaces, and the desire to protect Newtownmountkennedy’s woodlands and heritage.

“Every single page of this plan has been shaped by the community,” Flynn explained to East Coast FM. “It’s a roadmap for the town, not just a document on a shelf. It sets the stage for practical projects and access to national funding.”

The vision for the town is ambitious

Main Street as a destination: transforming it from a thoroughfare into a place where people want to linger.

Nature and heritage: better connecting the town to its surrounding forests and natural assets.

Local employment and commerce: ensuring the town isn’t just a commuter hub, but a place where people can live, work, and thrive.

Community services: developing spaces like a civic centre, library, and youth-focused facilities.

Already, the Town Team has seen successes. A recently constructed public building, built to net-zero carbon standards, marks a first for the town. The team is also in discussions with Wicklow County Council about turning this multi-use space into a facility that includes a library and other essential services.

“The plan isn’t just theoretical,” Flynn emphasizes. “Being one of only two towns in Wicklow with an official Town Centre First Plan puts us at the front of the queue for grants and national funding. It’s about making real change happen.”

Addressing challenges like narrow streets and heavy traffic on the main street is also a key part of the plan. Improving pedestrian safety, creating hubs to encourage foot traffic, and launching a shopfront improvement scheme are all ways the Town Team is working to make the town more attractive for residents and visitors alike.

“Newtownmountkennedy is evolving quickly, and our goal is to ensure it develops sustainably and inclusively,” Flynn concludes. “We want to create a town where people not only live and work, but where they feel a strong sense of community and pride.”

With the Town Team’s proactive approach, Newtownmountkennedy is poised to grow thoughtfully, balancing development with the needs of its residents and the preservation of its unique character.

Newtownmountkennedy (MyHome.ie)