THE CHALLENGE
The project involved developing a comprehensive Event Management Strategy to support a planning application to a Local Authority in Ireland.
The Application was for an ambitious town-centre development featuring a hotel, a range of bars and cafés, and a multi-level live venue.
The complexity of the site – its central location and diverse mix of uses – required a strategic approach to managing crowd flows, operational impacts, and event-related activity in a sensitive urban context.
The Solution
We joined the project at the early design stages, working as part of a 10-strong team of specialist consultants to shape a Planning Application for this complex, mixed-use development.
Our role was to lead on Event and Operational planning, ensuring these considerations were embedded from the outset.
Recognising the unique context, we adapted our standard methodology to develop a bespoke Event Management Strategy – designed specifically to support and strengthen the planning submission to the Local Authority
Although we’ve delivered Event Management Strategies for a range of clients – from temporary FIFA World Cup venues in the Middle East to local family events in Ireland – this marked the first time we tailored one as a core planning deliverable.
Our approach was highly collaborative. We integrated findings from across the Design Team – including the Traffic and Transport Assessment, Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment, and others – ensuring the strategy reflected the full scope of the proposed development.
To illustrate how events would be delivered safely and effectively, we also produced a Sample Event Management Plan and Risk Assessment.
These documents demonstrated the client’s operational intent and brought added clarity and credibility to the application.
The Result
A robust and well‑coordinated Planning Application was submitted to the Local Authority, with the Event Management Strategy and supporting documentation forming critical components of the submission.
Early consultation with the Local Authority highlighted the importance of both Event Management and Noise & Vibration as core areas of concern – particularly given the development’s location on the town’s Main Street.
This feedback shaped the strategy and confirmed its relevance.
Our work aligned closely with other key technical assessments, including the Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment and the Traffic & Transport Assessment, ensuring a consistent and integrated response to the site’s operational challenges.
The result was a comprehensive and credible application – one that not only met regulatory expectations but reflected the client’s commitment to doing things the right way.
With deep roots in the local community, the client was determined to set a high standard, and the joined‑up approach taken by the Design Team brought that vision to life.
Our Part
As a member of the Design Team for the project, we inputted across all disciplines from an Event / Operations perspective.
Services we provided include:
- Industry benchmarking & research
- Event Management Strategy development
- Sample Event Management Plan development
- Sample Risk Assessment development
- Event and Operations consultancy
- Crowd Safety consultancy
- Fire Life Safety consultancy
- Key stakeholder engagement
