An outlet centre consisting of 34 units that would generate 300 jobs during its construction phase and 200 full-time positions upon opening has been proposed for a 2.72 hectare site on Waterford’s Cork Road.
Waterford City Council received a planning application on July 16th from Junction One Investments Ltd to develop a site east of Ballybeg Drive, north of Meadowbank and south of the Cork Road.
The authority is due to deliver its verdict on the application on Thursday, September 9th, which also makes provision for 364 car parking spaces, four spaces for coaches and new access to the N25.
Were the project to be green-lit, the timing could hardly be better from an economic perspective given the recent controversy regarding the TK Maxx store at nearby Butlerstown.
However, given the tendency to ‘serial objection’ that persists among some Waterfordians, it would be a surprise if the project cleared its first hurdle without some form of formal opposition.
Of course, it’s worth noting that those with well-considered grounds for objection, be it local residents worried about the scale of the project or existing city retailers, may well have bona fide concerns they wish to air.
Those behind the project, based on what they have achieved at other destinations in both the Republic and Northern Ireland, believe it has the potential to “dovetail” with the new ‘Destination Waterford’ initiative.
According to Junction One director Martin Quinn: “We look forward to applying our experiences in Northern Ireland to Waterford in conjunction with Parker Green International who have a track record of delivering quality retail and lifestyle developments in Ireland and overseas.”
He continued: “The 34 stores at the Cork Road will accommodate recognisable brand names offering great value.
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I cannot not see how or why this development should go ahead. It surprises me that the writer of this article launches a veiled criticism of serial objectors. This is symptomatic of the blinkered view of the writer of this article and the city councilors too. The coucillors will be under pressure to grant permission for this development because of the jobs it will create, most of which will be construction jobs, this is a very short term view. In the long term this development will be bad for the already decaying city centre of Waterford. look at the situation logically.
TK Maxx is moving from the outskirts of the city to the city centre which can only be good for Waterford.
There is already an empty shopping centre on the new outter ring road, Waterford Retail Park is empty.
There is a massive empty development in Ferrybank.
There are several empty units in Waterford city centre. To grant planning permission to this latest proposal would be illogical and insane.
Unfortunately logic and sanity are in short supply amongst our public representatives.
I am a young unemployed male looking for work, with no political connections who is despairing at the state of our once proud city.
Shame on you councilors. You are destroying our city.
Hi David
I’ve no problem with people objecting. My gripe lies with those who object for the sake of objecting over and over again, thereby making a mockery of the process, and we all know that such people most certainly exist in Waterford.
It’s worth pointing out that in my report I also state: “Of course, it’s worth noting that those with well-considered grounds for objection, be it local residents worried about the scale of the project or existing city retailers, may well have bona fide concerns they wish to air.” Surely that shows I’m not too “blinkered” as you suggest in your post.
It’s important that we all have the right to object, of course it is, but there are those who clearly abuse that right, and such an abuse is unwelcome and doesn’t always reflect genuine local concerns.
In my column for this week’s paper, I refer to white elephants and empty units in the city, good points which you’ve made yourself, and clearly the focus should be on getting those units filled first before anything else is built, no question.
Whether this project will actually go ahead or even approach the scale suggested by the drawing which accompanied my report will be of interest.