Work gets underway this Thursday to remove asbestos and waste electrical and electronic equipment from the landmark North Quays grain mills and silos, to allow for, at long last, the demolition of buildings there over the next 16 weeks.
Once a major part of the city’s industrial landscape, the buildings have been abandoned since the early 1990s, when most port-related activity relocated to Belview.
The demolition programme will include the removal of eight large structures and a number of smaller buildings from the Waterford City & County Council-owned site.
Amongst them are four buildings linked to a major milling operation once run by Odlums and a series of large silos and other structures that were used by animal feed ingredients suppliers R&H Hall Ltd, one of which was previously covered in a huge banner to promote Waterford’s hosting of The Tall Ships’ Races in 2011.
A preservation order has been placed on the nine-storey former R&H Hall mill at the centre of the site and measures are being take to protect it during the demolition process, according to the Council. Constructed in 1905 using methods developed in the late 19th Century by Frenchman Francois Hennebique, this building is one of the oldest surviving steel-reinforced concrete structures in Ireland. It originally stood alone on the wharf, until the adjacent sites became occupied by additional warehouses during the 20th century.
Contractors Demolition Services Ireland Ltd of Derry are understood to be taking a range of measures to protect the River Suir during the demolition process, since some of the largest buildings are on manmade wharves. Once the site has been cleared of asbestos and waste electrical and electronic equipment, a range of specialist equipment will be brought in. It is envisaged that no more than 10 contractors will work on the site at any one time over the 16-week period, the Council has said.
Last June, Minister of State Paudie Coffey announced a €30 million investment plan for the North Quays site that would include the construction of two new office blocks, a multi-storey car park the extension of the railway line, along with a new railway station on the North Quay, flood defence works and the building of a 250-metre, navigation-friendly pedestrian bridge connecting the site to the Clock Tower. This proposal was mentioned in the Capital Investment Plan released by the Government last week.
However this is not the first ambitious plan mooted for the North Quays. Various plans to develop the site have emerged as far back in 1998 while in 2008, then owners Zella (Waterford) Ltd., a joint venture between McInerney Homes Ltd. and Kent-based property developer Starnes plc, sought planning permission for a €250 million development that included a major retail component, offices, apartments, leisure facilities and two hotels. Yet the massive landbank remained idle.
Speaking during a visit to the site, City & County Mayor John Cummins said the demolition would remove what has ‘has long been regarded as an eyesore’ in Waterford.
“In many ways though, the site clearance between now and early 2016 is just the first phase of the renewal story as the really exciting thing for me is the opportunity that this site – once cleared – will present for future development on the north-side of the river Suir which has for too long been an underutilised asset in our city.”
Mayor Cummins added: “An exciting vision is emerging for the development of high-end office accommodation on this unique waterfront site that will then be linked to the existing city centre with a pedestrian bridge. In their day, the silos and mills that are now being demolished were a key part of Waterford’s economy – this prominent site can play that role again for this and future generations.”
According to Minister Coffey: “This proposal has real potential to create long term sustainable employment, facilitate the redevelopment of Waterford City on the North side of the River Suir and improve accessibility to the heart of the city, by car, train or on foot.
“It is now time for Waterford to deliver on its full potential and I am committed to seeing this happen. Together these proposals when delivered will allow us to compete with other regions and cities; both at home and abroad and can benefit the wider region in so many ways.”