Plans to expand Carlow business into green lane carpark

MONACO Developments Tramore Ltd has applied to Carlow Co Council to build a three-storey office building to facilitate the expansion of UNUM Ireland at Shamrock Plaza in Carlow town. The software and IT support business has 305 employees and currently trades in the adjacent building, which was built by Monaco Properties in 2006.

Architects CJ Falconer & Associates note that the UNUM office within the Shamrock Plaza building is now ‘operating over capacity’ and the company wants to expand from its current location. They said current projections are that UNUM could grow to a maximum of 450 to 500 employees over the next ten to 20 years.

The new office ‘is intended to be more comparable to modern office accommodation typical of the IT sector (staff canteen, meeting rooms and breakout/inspiration spaces and so on),’ according to the planning application cover letter.

The plans outline space for two retail or restaurant units at ground floor level, which would be accessed via Green Lane, and office and storage areas over three levels. The architects said the building will be built using high quality materials and finishes and ‘be a significant and positive contribution to the town centre and the streetscape of Green Lane itself’.

The new development will have 12 car parking spaces and 60 covered bicycle parking spaces at its rear available to employees. These will be in addition to the 70 spaces in the basement car park currently available for use by UNUM employees. The pay and display car park which has been on the site since 2016 will no longer function.

Monaco Developments Tramore Ltd submitted the application on 12 May after holding pre-planning consultations regarding the plan’s alignment with the town centre zoning plan with council officials on 18 August 2025. Members of the public can make submissions on the development until 15 June.