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I’ve been perplexed by that building on William Street for a long time, its quite a specimen in fairness!
A look at some aerial images of the building shows that it is in fact just a 2 storey structure with the remainder of the “façade†consisting of some pre cast concrete panels!
The attached image below from the mid 1960s shows the original building in the ownership of Todd’s. Photographs from the early 1970s also show the building still intact. I’ve no idea what happened after this, but given the fate suffered by so many buildings in Limerick during this period, nothing should come as a surprise!
Unfortunately all you have to do is take a look at the opera centre debacle and you’ll realise that we haven’t learned as much as we should have from the dark days of the 60s and 70s!:(
The other location is on Nicholas Street itself. Again it’s in close proximity to St Mary’s Cathedral so appropriate and sensitive design is essential.
This site has been derelict for a good number of years and apparently the existence of a medieval fireplace has delayed its redevelopment. I’m not sure what the current status of this fireplace is or indeed if the site contains any other items of archaeological interest.
Anyone know anything about this?
0833
Development of office building consisting of a public foyer with gallery space and cafe area to ground floor and offices to upper level. The site is noted as an RMP (Record of Monuments & Places) Ref: LI 005-017 as described and protected under the National Monuments Act 1930 – 1994
36-39 Nicholas Street
King’s Island
Limerick CityAn unusual event occurred over the last week or so with two developments given the go ahead in the “medieval” area of the city! The reason its unusual is because Limerick City Council have shot down a considerable number of applications especially in the Nicholas Street area over the last couple of years.
There has been a lot of noise over the last decade or so about developing Nicholas Street as a tourist attraction, however very little has actually been achieved. The area is currently plagued by vacant premises and wholesale neglect.
The major problem seems to be a lack of a coherent strategy for the rejuvenation of the area. There needs to be some kind of stimulus to attract businesses to locate here. Maybe the Council could reduce the commercial rate or better still waive it for a certain period?
Anyway, the first site is on Bridge Street, just across the road from St Mary’s Cathedral.
08249
Permission for the demolition of a single storey structure and the construction of a 4 storey office development and ancillary works to site adjacent to the former Post Office.
Site adjacent to former Post Office
Bridge Street
Limerick.@Contraband wrote:
Is there any new word on the Opera Centre?
The massive billboards are still up everywhere for it but no one I know seems to know anything about it.The only certainty at the moment is that a decision is due from An Bord Pleanala in February. Theres been 3 years of pure speculation about this project so take any stories you might hear with a serious pinch of salt!
Btw the Opera Centre now has its own dedicated thread!
Got an email back from the City Council today regarding their spending plans for next year. These are the figures they quoted, the only areas to see an increase are housing and water services.
Budget 2009
- Housing €17,142,347 + €392,560
- Roads €13,003,249 – €369,879
- Water & Sewerage €14,942,904 + €302,051
- Planning & Development €4,969,243 – €147,385
- Environment €19,343,719 – €127,184
- Recreation & Amenity €6,549,217 – €480,216
- Agri, Education, Health €6,420,527 – € 38,626
- Misc €6,435,200 + €1,454,466
Overall Spending 2009 € 88,806,586 + €985,788
What I really wanted to find out was when the re-modelling of O Connell Street and William Street would be getting underway? Bear in mind that Summer 2008 was the original date for the start of the William Street project.
As you can see, I didn’t exactly get a straight answer.
Limerick City Council hopes to commence work in 2009 on the next phases of the City Centre re-modelling scheme. This should see work commence on the inner orbital route that will facilitate the upgrading of William Street and O Connell Street.
On the one hand it seems to suggest that more than 1 project will be getting underway but then again it also implies that the O Connell St/William St projects wont be starting until the orbital route is up and running!
Im guessing its all dependant on how much money is available from the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government.
At a time when the arse has fallen out of the economy and the city is haemorrhaging money, the City Manager has come up with an ingenious solution, to take even more money out of the city!:confused:
To be fair, it isn’t all the City Council’s fault. Funding has inexplicably been cut despite the increased costs associated with the mini boundary extension and the resulting compensation that has to be paid to Limerick County Council.
With no rate increases in the County Council run suburbs , it doesn’t take a genius to work out what the effect on city centre trade will be!
Local political gombeenism is killing the city and this nonsense has to stop once and for all. Come on John Gormley, its time to get the finger out!:mad:
Dismay as Limerick city businesses face a three per cent hike
By Nick Rabbitts
CITY centre businesses, already facing an uphill battle to win customers from shopping centres in the suburbs, will have another added disadvantage next year with rates set to go up by three per cent.
And to add salt to their wounds businesses in the county including the Crescent Shopping Centre and Castltroy won’t face any increase in their rate.
This Thursday, city councillors were presented with the City Council’s financial estimates ahead of the budget meeting which will take place Thursday next.
City management are recommending a three per cent commercial rate rise – the first since 2005 – but county management are advocating no increase be made next year, ahead of the their own budget meeting on December 15.
Meanwhile, following Finance Minister Brian Lenihan’s budgetary decision to cut the local authority’s spending power by seven per cent, city manager Tom Mackey has been forced to recommend savage reductions in funding to five out of eight sectors – including a cut of almost €500,000 to recreational projects.
According to the estimates, spending on education looks set to take a cut of more than €38,000, albeit the lowest projected cut.
However, there is better news for the city council’s housing programme – and the regeneration process set to get under way – as an extra €392,000 is being recommended.The county council’s rates freeze represents a massive blow to city centre traders, who are already losing out because the county charges lower rates – providing a boost to suburban shopping outlets like Castletroy Shopping Centre and the Crescent.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader this Thursday, Cllr Jim Long said news of the county council’s rates freeze represents a “death knell.”
“This changes the whole ball game for Limerick City Council. We are struggling to compete with suburban shopping areas as it is. We have a responsibility to the business sector and Limerick city centre is on the decline. It is widely forecast that a number of businesses are facing the chop after Christmas. Inevitably when you increase the commercial rate, this will reflect back on the consumer. We should not be afraid to do the right thing. Unless we are fully satisfied this is the best budget, we should not accept it.”
Meanwhile, former Trade Minister Michael Noonan called on Mr Mackey to reverse his decision.
“Business people have had a dreadful year and the prospects for next year look no better. City businesses simply cannot afford a rate increase,” he said.
However, the chief executive of Limerick’s Chamber Maria Kelly said the city could not have done much more, considering the economic climate.
“We don’t welcome any rates increase obviously, but I am confident the rate was kept as low as possible – it could not have gone much lower,” she said.Frank O’Mahony, managing director of O’Mahony’s Bookshop in O’Connell Street described a rates increase as “ridiculous”
“Every business in town is struggling. Most people are reporting their profits are down at least 15 per cent, but some are up to 40 per cent. It is somewhat strange to be claiming rates have not gone up for three years, when water costs in the city have gone up astronomically. Business costs are exceedingly high, and they are getting higher.”
Cllr Maria Byrne – a rate payer herself – has claimed the government have failed to consider in Limerick’s case, the fact that the city is operating at a larger area following this year’s boundary extension.
“We have more people to service now here in the city. Now the likes of Caherdavin and Coonagh are in the city, we should have received a further allocation,” she said.The deputy mayor, Fianna Fail’s Cllr John Cronin, said: “Considering the economic situation, it would be nice to keep rates the way they are. The situation is so bad, I cannot understand why an increase in rates is being sought. We are getting no money from the extended city, because we have to pay a charge to the county every year for this. But I think the manager is doing the best he can considering we are €800,000 down on our government grant.”
Under the estimates, councillors expenses have been frozen, despite several city members, including Cllr Long admitting they were prepared to take a cut.
Cllr Long hit out at city management for recommending a massive €1.4m rise in ‘Miscellaneous Services’ – a sector which covers the costs of administration.
“Miscellaneous services is a very strange thing to be increasing,” he said, “The increase in miscellaneous services is double the cut.”
And he added he does not know if this tough budget will solve the problems.“People say we are walking a tightrope with the budget. But I call it a circus act. We are on a trampoline situation here and I do not know if the safety net is going to withhold,” he concluded.
Despite major projects in the pipeline to construct the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road – a major artery going through the city’s northside – as well as bus lanes, the roads department look likely to see its budget cut by more than €350,000.
And Mr Mackey is also looking to slash €147,000 from planning and development, in spite of the fact major retail strategies are due to be launched or completed over the next few years.
The difference in spend from Budget 2008 is 1.1 per cent.
© Limerick Leader
New boardwalk boosts Limerick’s riverside city
By John Hogan
LIMERICK’S riverside is to receive a major facelift with the construction of a boardwalk, at a cost of almost €1m, which will stretch from the Treaty Stone to the new Curragower Falls Park.
Plans for the Clancy Strand Riverside Boardwalk were described as an integral part of the enhancement of the city centre at their launch in City Hall this Thursday afternoon.
“The River Shannon is one of the most important assets of Limerick City, as recognised by substantial new development investment and the overall vision for a riverside city,” said Vincent Murray, senior engineer with Limerick City Council.
“To reinforce these initiatives, the Riverside Improvement Strategy aims to provide a high quality waterside environment for public use and enjoyment, as well as a unique setting for the ongoing revitalisation of the City Centre. The boardwalk will provide an important link in the continuous riverside walkway, extending along both sides of the river from Shannon Bridge to Thomond Bridge.”
The boardwalk will be a lightweight steel structure cantilevered from the river wall. Construction will involve a structural steel frame supported by a line of piles of front of the existing wall. Work on the project will start this month and planners expect it to be finished by March. The value of the boardwalk contract is €955,000.
Mr Murray added that the boardwalk will also provide a much-needed safe pedestrain route along a narrow section of Clancy Strand where no footpath currently exists.
Carillion Irishenco Ltd will oversee the construction of the Riverside Boardwalk. Past projects for the company include the Grand Parade in Cork, the James Joyce Bridge in Dublin and the Living Bridge, linking the UL main campus with the North Campus on the other side of the Shannon.
The development is jointly funded by Failte Ireland, Limerick City Council and Shannon Development.
@SuperCool wrote:
Why in Gods name woulf you oppose that?!
Anything would be better than that eyesore.This si getting ridiculous.
I’m all for questioning some of the more dubious applications, but you seem to have to apply to An Bord Planala five times if you want to sneeze in the city center nowadays!An Bord Pleanala dont specify the reason(s) behind an appeal on their website and Limerick City Council STILL dont make planning conditions etc available online, so one can only speculate on the grounds of this appeal.
However there are 2 “proposed protected structures” on the site (35 & 37 Catherine Street), the facades of which the developer proposed to retain. I believe it would be a mistake to let this through as originally proposed so an appeal on the basis that these buildings should be retained in their entirety would be justifiable imo!
Other than that, the appellant may either have a vested interest in neighbouring properties or simply be out to cause a nuisance!
Whatever the reason, a decision is due by March 19th.
See Previous Post
@jpsartre wrote:
Bear in mind the road in front of the cathedral will eventually form part of the new orbital route around the city. Which is a pity really because the whole area would make for a very impressive plaza if traffic could be diverted around it.
I’d forgotten about that actually, ideally there shouldnt be a heavily trafficed route passing in close proximity to such a landmark as St John’s Cathedral! The planned orbital travels up Charlotte Quay, Clare Street, Saint Lelia Street, New Road and past St John’s onto Cathedral Place. Unfortunately there isnt really a suitable alternative route available unless you were to use the Dublin Road and Childers Road instead. Although that isnt exactly feasible given the volumes already using those roads!
Its disappointing because as it stands that area immediately surrounding the Cathedral, Fountain etc is really lacking some form of definition and the road layout is a confusing mess. Obviously the revamp of John’s Square will drastically improve matters however its hard not to feel that they have missed a golden opportunity to create what would be Limerick’s first large scale public space!:(
More on the plans for John’s Square.
Spotlight trained on John’s Square revamp
Highly ambitious project to get underway in 2009
CENTRAL to a major redesign of John’s Square is the focus on making it safe and accessible to citizens and visitors to the city
A report on the redevelopment is currently on public display (until December 17), at the planning counter in City Hall. .A main element of the development is a new city orbital route that will provide priority for pedestrians, and a one-way system around the city centre.
Other redesign features will include: a one way route from Lower Gerald Griffin Street to John’s Gate: footpath widening, high quality lighting, and landscaping on that section of the road at the end of Lower Gerald Griffin Street leading to the square, and tree planting, street furniture, the under-grounding of existing services and the installation of surface water drainage.
Word from the planning department is that as one of the few entrances to the medieval city, “the intention is to return it to being a space for meeting and activity, with an overwhelming sense of space – it is this character and history that we wish to draw attention toâ€.
With confirmation that funding is available, work is estimated to get underway by the end of 2009
“Since the eight million euro refurbishment of St John’s Cathedral a few years ago, it became glaringly obvious that the Square, by contrast, was in need of a major overhaul,†says Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon.
“â€I’m very impressed with the initial report, as are other councillors who’ve seen it. The intention is to create a public space for performance of the arts, with the provision of sheltered seating at one end of the square, and the availability of stage and performance facilities in an area that will be safe for people with children and visitors, which will have one- way traffic from Lower Gerald Griffin Street, turning left into Broad Street,
“I’m calling on t he Market Trustees to transfer some of the stalls outside the Milk Market to John’s Square on Saturday, or possibly to start up a Sunday morning market thereâ€.
The report recommends appropriate access to St John’s Hospital, the Milk Market and the cathedral, and cafe and shop frontages will be allowed to spill out into the Square in designated spaces.
Trees will be planted to help absorb sound pollution and all throughways are to be removed from the space to facilitate the work, with the exception of a single one-way lane that can be closed off for special events in the Square.
The planning department in City hall describes the project as “highly ambitious, and one that is viewed as a design that encompasses the hopes and wishes of a large cross section of Limerick people.
“It will see the bringing together of a large number of much needed projects regarding access, inclusive design and disability awarenessâ€.
Representing the area politically, Cllr O’Hanlon says that while there is huge enthusiasm for the project, he is encouraging people to participate in the consultation process.
“I will be recommending that St John’s Brass and Reed Band, which will have to leave John’s Pavilion on Mulgrave Street, to facilitate the installation of the new orbital route, be given a new band room in or around the Square, and I’m also calling for the erection of an attractive railing around the fountain, when it is refurbished, sooner, rather than laterâ€.
To further develop the Square as an artistic centre, (the city’s professional Daghdha Dance company and apartments for the use of artists are located on the northside of the Square), it is planned to make additional provision for other artistic outlets.
© Limerick Post
St John’s Square is one of 3 “Special Project Areas” identified by the City Council, the others being The Crescent and Pery Square. Does the scope of this project extend to improving the area around the Cathedral and drinking fountain?
Attachments:
St John’s Square & Drinking Fountain by derhur
St John’s Cathedral by [url=“http://www.flickr.com/photos/climberhunt/â€]climberhunt[/url]
@KeepAnEyeOnBob wrote:
How long was that site a surface level carpark – I seem to remember quite a few of these in the 1980s. Amazing that buildings in Limerick were torn down with nothing planned in their place besides a bit of tarmac (and not much of it if I remember the state of these car parks).
The Lyric Cinema was demolished sometime in the early 1970s and the site was vacant up until 2002 when construction started on the current apartment building. It almost seemed to be City Council policy back in the 60s and 70s that if a building was vacant and dilapidated, it had to come down. It has to be said though that the maintainence of many buildings in the past was of a pretty poor standard resulting in their lives been considerably shortened.
Indeed back in November 1986, the Saxone Shoes building (where Keanes Jewellers are now) actually collapsed onto O Connell Street in the middle of the night, had it happened only a couple of hours earlier God only knows how many people could have been injured or killed!:eek:
@KeepAnEyeOnBob wrote:
Interesting to see old lamp posts in the old photos that are still around the city today (retrofitted with arms on top of the pole, some retrofitted again just a year or two ago) – pretty plain and ugly, but I wonder how old they are? 1930s? 40s? 50s?
In the early decades of the 20th Century, the city’s street lighting would have been provided by both gas and electricity , back in those days the electricity was generated almost entirely from coal. It would only have been after the opening of the Shannon Scheme at Ardnacrusha in 1929 that electrical lighting was extended beyond the principal city centre streets.
In the late 1940s, the old lamposts were removed from O Connell Street/Patrick Street and a new style of street lighting was introduced. Under this system, lanterns were hung from a series of cables and suspended over the centre of the street. These lasted until around the early 1980s? when they were replaced by the current arrangement.
Of course O Connell Street is set to get new “decorative” lighting as part of its new multi million Euro makeover, whenever that happens!
Attachments:
The Crescent & Patrick Street C. 1950.@Dreamstate wrote:
I take your point , but Arthurs Quay park was also once enclosed by railings.
Also , the skateboarders previously practicing at Tait now have somewhere to go ( Steamboat Quay Skate Park).
Are you sure that the ‘Goths’ are the ones who made the mess?;)Yeah Im pretty sure it was 1 of them alright. Although speaking of the skateboarders, I seem to remember the City Council blaming them for damaging the base of Taits clock during the summer, I presume it has been repaired at this stage?
BTW shanekeane, are you actually trying to imply that Goths DONT have bad haircuts?:confused:
@PoxyShamrock wrote:
That’s not actually The Lyric in the photo above.
It’s Havergale Hall, a protestant boys orphanage.That is indeed Havergale Hall, although it was the building next door that was formerly an orphanage. Havergale Hall itself was built in 1840 as the headquarters of the Limerick Philosophical and Literary Society. It was given an Art Deco twist in the 1930s/40s when it was converted into a cinema/theatre. It was demolished in the 70s and the site was vacant until the early years of this decade when the present apartment complex was built.
Former “Protestant Orphan Society Hall”, now owned by the HSE.
Attached is an image of Baker Place from the 1950s with the Lyric cinema on the left. You can also just about see the old Glentworth hotel which at the time had a highly decorative facade facing onto Catherine Street, which in typical Limerick style was torn down for no particular reason!:(
@Dreamstate wrote:
In fairness , I have less issue with the ESB pole than I do with the development adjoining it that faces onto Baker Place and the Health Board additions including the Mansard roof and associated works …..also , whats wrong with the ‘Goth freak show ‘ ? Surely our inability to create decent public open space in this city is demonstrated by their presence. Would you prefer if the City Council put a railing around it ?
Well my problem with them was the filthy mess they left in their wake, looks like some of them had overindulged in the aul buckfast!:rolleyes: You wouldnt be so quick to defend them if you had to go clean it up!:eek:
Well Taits Clock on Baker Place was their preferred haunt until recently, would you not classify that as a public space? Albeit a small one!
Actually come to think of it, the Limerick Savings Bank was indeed enclosed by railings in times past!
Sarsfield Credit Union have got the go-ahead to “renovate and refurbish†the former Limerick Savings Bank (The Stone Jug) on Glentworth Street. The building has been vacant for the past 18 months since Permanent TSB sold up and moved the branch out to Dooradoyle. Sarsfield Credit Union will be moving from their current location next to the Belltable on O Connell Street.
I walked past the building for the first time in a good while recently and couldn’t help but notice how poorly the site has been maintained. Its strewn with rubbish, weeds and other vegetation are growing all over the place and there’s a fair amount of graffiti smeared across the facade! The steps in front also seem to have become the new hangout for the local Goth freak show!:rolleyes:
Its pretty embarrassing to see one of the city’s most interesting and unique buildings in such a state. Indeed the area immediately surrounding the Stone Jug is an absolute joke, the pavement is in bits and yet another of the ESB’s elegant corner poles, heavily laden with overhead wires totally detracts from the character of the building!:mad:
I really cant understand why they didn’t complete the public realm improvements down to the Catherine Street junction as part of the Baker Place project, its only about 30 yards for God’s sake!
@jpsartre wrote:
anybody know what the future for no’s 50 & 51 Catherine St. is? The stoop is fenced off and I can’t quite read the site notice from the street.
Those 2 houses are in a desperate state of repair, indeed they arent far off structural failure. As far as I know, an order has been served to carry out the necessary repairs so I presume this work will be getting underway soon.
@justnotbothered wrote:
Afaik, a majority of the council are against this development, thankfully.
The proposed building remains a hideous mess.
Thats good to hear, I believe the vote will take place towards the end of the month.
Having recently seen the “revised” plans, I simply cannot believe the lack of respect it pays to Sarsfield bridge and the 1916 memorial. The gimmicky white paneling is absolutely abysmal!
@KeepAnEyeOnBob wrote:
Does the northside really have population for similar retail to Raheen/Castletroy? In addition, presumably the more affluent parts are unlikely to shop at a local development on the northside. Also some of the northside is walking distance to the city centre.
Plus there is the Jetland centre (which is not exactly thriving) – thus ensuring Coonagh Cross has even less attraction.
I really doubt extending Coonagh Cross would save it – it would merely mean a greater white elephant than at present.
As has already been mentioned, it was Limerick County Council who approved this development because of course this area was under their jurisdiction at that time. Its pretty clear that the County Council have a very different interpretation of the Mid West Retail Strategy than their city counterparts. Unfortunately out in County Hall €€€€€ seems to be more important than proper planning!:rolleyes: Its fair to say Coonagh Cross would not have been given the go ahead by the City Council.
Speaking of the Jetland, the Bank of Ireland are to open a branch in the unit originally set aside for a Library/medical centre.
08376
Permission to install hardwood timber security doors, 2 no. ATM machines & post/data delivery hatch, replace surrounding glazing with render to the West elevation, the addition of security bollards to North & East elevations, the addition of emergency escape & cash in transit door openings and new glazed entrance system to East elevation, replace existing glazing with security glazing throughout, the addition of signage to all elevations and all associated site works at the vacant Medical Centre/Library.
The Jetland Centre
Clonmacken/Ennis Road
CaherdavinMayor: I won’t be blackmailed over boat club plans for city
By Anne Sheridan
MAYOR of Limerick Cllr John Gilligan said he will not be “blackmailed” into voting in favour of the plans for the €20million redevelopment of Limerick Boatclub, which members say could be forced to close if the plans aren’t given the go-ahead by City Hall.
Mayor Gilligan said he will be voting against the motion to remove the building from a list of protected structures later this month, as he is completely opposed to the redesigned plans for the site.
“It’s an absolutely horrible, dreadful building and sticks out like a sore thumb. We should never even consider doing anything this. Hard decisions have to be made when you’re planning a city and my answer will be ‘no’,” he told this newspaper.
Limerick Boatclub had previously urged councillors to look at the “big picture”, stating that the new plans for the site would greatly attract new members and had looked at all other options for the site.
But Mayor Gilligan said “maybe it’s not the site that’s the problem. Maybe they should look at new ways of getting their members.”
So I think we can safely say that the Mayor is voting against it and its thought that the other 3 independent councillors may follow suit. A majority of the 17 city councillors will have to support the motion in order for the boatclub to be removed from the list of protected structures!
Planning has been refused for an extension to the Coonagh Cross shopping centre on the Ennis Road.
Limerick’s Coonagh Cross extension plans refused (Limerick Leader)
By John Hogan
EIGHT hundred potential jobs on the Northside of the city have been lost, after permission was refused for an extension to the Coonagh Cross Shopping Centre.
Plans for the proposed 17,319 squared metres extension at the shopping centre were submitted to Limerick City Council in early September but the Limerick Leader has learned that the application has been unsuccessful. The West Mall extension would have consisted of malls, food outlets, kiosks, a play area and a cinema.Permission was not granted as the council felt it would have contravened the Limerick City Centre Strategy, would have resulted in the oversupply of retail floor space at the site and would have created a traffic hazard.
Sean O’Sullivan, director of Chieftain Construction – the firm behind the development – wrote in a letter to Regeneration CEO Brendan Kenny that this decision sends out the message that Limerick isn’t open for business. Positive mention had been made of the Coonagh Cross development and its job creation prospects in the draft Regeneration document.
“Obviously private investment/services provision/job creation is a key cornerstone of your report/vision and all have been denied in one swoop of the pen,” Mr O’Neill.
“We are dead in the water without this extension. We cannot lease (or open) the current built facility without positive planning for the West Mall. The retailers won’t operate in the as-built centre as it isn’t viable i.e. doesn’t have the critical mass to make it viable.
“No additional investment will be allowed by our banks and no jobs will be created without positive planning for the West Mall. That’s a €150m investment/development on the Northside permanently shelved.”
Chieftain had estimated that 800 permanent jobs would have been created at Coonagh Cross as a result of the development and that a further 1,000 people would have been indirectly employed. The company has already paid €3m in planning contributions to Limerick City Council and would have been paying €1.25m-a-year in rates.
Mr O’Neill also wrote that the retail strategy for the area was predicted to be in draft format by March 2009. He added, however, that he expected it to remain a draft for many months afterwards because of ongoing disagreements between Limerick City and County Councils and Clare County Council.
The Chieftain director requested a meeting with Brendan Kenny to discuss the refused permission and requested his support at a follow-on meeting with council planning staff.
Local City Cllr Kevin Kiely said he was “at a loss” as to why the planning permission had been refused for the West Mall extension at Coonagh Cross.
“We don’t have a facility like the Crescent or Parkway shopping centres on the Northside of the city. Because there’s only one tenant (Tesco) out there at the moment, not as many people are going there as you’d like but the owners were in negotiation with a second anchor tenant. They can’t offer them the same deal now that planning has been refused,” said Cllr Kiely.
“I understand the council want to protect the city centre retailers but developments like the Opera Centre and Arthur’s Quay are four or five years down the road.
“This is a greenfield site with parking on the Northside and would have served somewhere in the region of 18,000 people.”
The creation of a retail hub for the northside of the city would be desirable in an ideal world. However due to the chronic level of incompetence that has already led to a severe oversupply of retail space in the suburbs, to the detriment of the city centre, the council were always going to take a negative stance on any additional out of town developments!
