Leading planning, design and architectural firm, CWPA Planning & Architecture was engaged in the management of an extensive range of projects throughout Ireland in 2022, valued in excess of €650 million. This marks a significant achievement for the firm which was founded during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown. CWPA is a collaboration between Joe Corr Planning Consultant, and Architect, Fran Whelan. The company brings a complete range of professional services for developers under one roof. CWPA comprises more than twenty highly qualified and experienced professionals in the architectural, urban planning, interior and exterior design sphere.
CWPA advised the developers of several major projects during the year including apartment developments in Dublin and Meath, Strategic Housing Developments in North Dublin comprising over 500 residential units. The residential developments have been designed to include crèche, community, retail facilities, future school and nursing home sites, as well as public realm spaces and biodiversity parks for residents to enjoy.
CWPA has designed a number of hotels and senior living facilities and was involved in significant projects in Donegal, Kilkenny, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Wicklow and across the four County Council areas in Dublin. All of its developments have been designed to create energy efficient homes set in quality designed and landscaped settings.
Fran Whelan, Managing Director – Architecture, CWPA, said: “2022 was a very successful and busy year for CWPA as our team worked on over seventy projects from small to large scale developments, one off dwellings, hotels, senior living and apartment buildings. We have also ensured our housing design meets the Universal Design Guidelines. The team is delighted be part of the housing solution by using its expertise in designing large scale residential areas. During 2022 our team entered a number of high-profile design competitions including a project for a cinema and theatre in Iceland.
As a relatively new practice, I am immensely proud of the range of both vibrant, highly motivated new talent and experienced expertise we have working with existing and future clients in the planning, architectural and design field.”
Joe Corr, Managing Director – Planning, CWPA, said: “We are passionate about delivering smart, sustainable, and appropriate planning solutions for our clients regardless of project size or the challenges it presents. While the planning process can be frustratingly slow at times and, on occasions there are many complicated issues and hurdles to jump along the way, nonetheless it is hugely satisfying to bring attractive, and sustainable designs through the process to deliver projects that will serve generations to come. Despite the current issues with An Bord Pleanála, I believe the organisation brings immense value to the Irish planning system and has transitioned over the years into a robust independent planning authority, much needed as part of a fair planning process for Ireland.”
For several years, Fran Whelan and Joe Corr have been at the centre of a significant CSR project with Action Ireland Trust, in the Southern African nation of Lesotho. The project is a skills exchange project which has delivered new classrooms, kitchens, a science laboratory, bored wells, to rural schools. Currently CWPA support sanitation, rainwater harvesting, clean water, and new kitchens and gardens to 5 schools in the capital Maseru. These schools have over 6000 learners with no such facilities. CWPA also mentor Planners and young Architects in Lesotho and we are also working on a project to research local building materials that will have a reduced carbon footprint.
Baldoyle apartments
CWPA designed, sought and received planning permission for a site in Baldoyle comprising two, three storey apartment blocks housing 10, one-bedroom apartments and 11, two-bedroom apartments. Construction work has just commenced on this site and will be completed in mid-2023.
Strategic Housing Developments (SHD) which are applications that go directly to An Bord Pleanála for decision. Flemington Lane in Balbriggan is a residential development providing for 127 new dwellings, a crèche facility and public realm space covering almost 4.5 hectares of the site. This development is currently awaiting the decision of An Bord Pleanála under the SHD process.
The Strategic Housing Development process has now been replaced by the Largescale Residential Development process.
