The vision, led by Ballymore Group founder and chairman Sean Mulryan, outlines a “15-minute city” designed to support 100,000 residents by 2040.

Unveiled to a wide range of stakeholders – including Government ministers, opposition leaders, education and industry figures, and local authorities – the plan emphasises regional balance, green energy, and biodiversity. It proposes the expansion of the TUS university campus to accommodate 25,000 students, alongside the construction of a 5,000-bed eco-friendly student village.

At the heart of the proposal are 20,000 zero-carbon homes, integrated with healthcare, education, cultural, and sporting amenities to support a growing population. Additionally, the plan allocates 5,000 hectares for the restoration of natural landscapes, including rewilded wetlands and the rewetting of bogs.

Ballymore describes Athlone as the ideal pilot location due to its existing infrastructure: a central location, a university, room for urban expansion, and natural resources capable of generating 90% of the city’s energy needs from renewable sources. The company argues that the development could serve as a national model for regionally balanced growth and Ireland’s broader green transition.

Mulryan, who spent seven years developing the plan, said government leadership will be essential to bring the vision to life. Ballymore has assembled a steering group and is seeking both public and private investment to fund the project.

The company is calling for updates to the National Planning Framework and for Athlone to be officially designated as a strategic zone for enterprise, education, and biodiversity. It describes the plan as a viable roadmap to meet Ireland’s demographic, environmental, and economic changes.