16/06/2026
Six tonnes of asbestos removed from Westgate House
By Lauren Ross
The regeneration of the long-awaited Westgate House in Drogheda is moving forward, but Louth County Council has revealed the scale of the challenge at the site, where six tonnes of asbestos have been removed and parts of the building are described as being in "a poor state".
Despite those issues, the council hopes to go to tender in September for a works contractor, with the project due to be completed by mid-2028.
The project, which received €7m in THRIVE funding, is intended to turn West Gate House and the former Drogheda Youth Development (DYD) building into a multi-functional cultural and community hub, featuring exhibition and performance spaces, artist studios, digital media facilities and meeting rooms. The total investment in the project is estimated at approximately €10m, with the €3 million balance to be provided by Louth County Council.
The update was given to members at the June meeting of Drogheda Borough District following Cllr Pio Smith’s (Lab) request for an update on the works.
A council official told members that the design team is still working through the structural assessment of the property, which was said to be in a “poor state to say the least”.
Works have already included the removal of six tonnes of asbestos from the former DYD building on the site with the official telling members a “lot of work is going on at the moment in getting the detailed design done, and paring back the walls from the old plasterboard that was put up to see what the actual issues are behind it.”
The older part of the building has also presented problems, with suspended floors having to be put in because the original floors are gone.
(Pictured is Westgate House and a design image of the building ahead of the works)
For more see page 4 www.droghedaleader.ie
