Plans for a multi-million euro development of Mount Congreve are being advanced.
Waterford Council is seeking a design team for a €3.4 million revamp of Mount Congreve house.
The brief is for the restoration and conversion of the ground floor of the John Roberts-designed 1760s mansion.
When it's complete in 2022, there will be a new visitor centre featuring retail, food and beverage facilities, kitchens, toilets and a ticket desk while also opening up new areas of the estate to the public. The upper floors of the house may be converted in later phases.
According to the brief: ‘The main house is currently vacant, but has been maintained to a minimal level over the past number of years to keep the structure from deteriorating. There have been reports carried out on the roof and mechanical and electrical services and substantial work will be required to these elements as well as cleaning, on-going repair and decorating. However, the general condition of the house is fair to good.
‘The proposal is to carry out works on the ground floor of the central block of the main house and eastern wing only. The refurbishment of the upper floors and western areas of the house will be phased at a later date. The concept is that the main rooms of the central block are to be used primarily for formal access to the garden. The development focus however will be on the eastern wing courtyard which will be glazed over to form an enclosed area with food & beverage and retail and be accessible independently from the formal entrance to the main house."
Home to one of the great gardens of the world, Mount Congreve was bequeathed by Ambrose Congreve to the State in 2011 and is held in Trust for public benefit.
The latest project, which is funded by the government's Rural Regeneration fund and Failte Ireland, will restore and adapt the landmark building and improve amenities
Economic Director with Waterford Council Michael Quinn says visitor numbers need to be ramped up significantly before the estate is sustainable.
The 70-acre gardens were highlighted in the Local Government Auditor's Report for 2019 which said there was an urgent need to ensure the current operating deficit was addressed as expenditure far exceeded income.
Michael Quinn says it's particularly challenging given Covid:
"It will be a number of years before Mount Congreve is sustainable. You need 50-60 thousand paying visitors plus as general visitors just using facilities in terms of buying coffee etc..before you get to a point where it's breakeven. That's quite a challenge.
"We were doing reasonably well in that visitor numbers had grown from 12-14 thousand and we were hoping for over 30 thousand in 2020."
However, Michael Quinn believes Mount Congreve will bounce back faster than other tourist sites and hopes the site can reopen in May or June this year.
