Belvedere House to receive major investment under Just Transition Scheme

Belvedere House, Gardens and Park has secured €187,500 under the EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, marking a significant step towards its long-term development and sustainability.

The funding, which was confirmed at last week’s meeting of the Economic, Enterprise, Agriculture, and Tourism SPC, will be used to create a master plan aimed at maximising the site’s tourism potential while ensuring the conservation of its built and natural heritage.

The master plan will establish a strategic vision for Belvedere, identifying projects that can be developed in the short, medium, and long term. The goal is to position the estate as a major visitor attraction of scale, with an emphasis on heritage protection and economic viability.

The development of Belvedere comes as part of a wider regeneration initiative within County Westmeath, which also includes major investments in Athlone. Athlone Castle has been awarded €3.2 million for a full revamp of its visitor experience, while the Athlone Boardwalk and Outdoor Swimming Pool project has received €561,803 for detailed design work.

The SPC meeting also discussed ongoing marketing initiatives to boost tourism across the county. A strong emphasis is being placed on collaborating with national tourism bodies, digital marketing, and influencer outreach to highlight Westmeath’s tourism assets.

With funding now in place, work on the Belvedere master plan is expected to commence shortly, and further details will be released in the coming months.