Waterford North Quays

News & Updates

North Quays Public Infrastructure Project Update – September 2024

Over the summer months, further significant progress has been made on the North Quays Public Infrastructure Project. The public infrastructure works are funded with a public investment of €207m, including €100.6m of Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) funding and following cabinet approval, a further €70m from the Department of Transport through the National Transport …Read More

Read More

Abbey Road – Temporary Road Closure Extension

BAM, the main contractor on the North Quays Public Infrastructure Project, has advised Waterford City and County Council that the current road closure on Abbey Road will require a two-week extension to Friday, August 30th.  The extension is to facilitate essential works for a deep foul sewer, new retaining wall and finishing works. BAM has …Read More

Read More

Abbey Road, Ferrybank – Temporary Road Closure

From June 28th to August 16th 2024, Abbey Road will be closed, and traffic will be diverted to the N29/Port Road. The North Quays Public Infrastructure works are funded with a public investment of €207m, including €100.6m of Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) funding and following cabinet approval, a further €70m from the Department of …Read More

Read More

Regional Ambitions and national impact

North Quays is one of the top ten projects included in the National Planning Framework (NPF) “Ireland 2040”. Its ambition is to enable Waterford to become a regional city of scale, leading the economic development for the South East and expanding and enhancing the local economy to realise the potential of the City and the region as a whole. The development, earmarked SDZ and already beneficiary of allocated public support, is anticipated to combine commercially attractive asset classes such as the life sciences, social and senior housing, health care, university services, office and retail.

Ireland’s First Zero Carbon City

Warranted by its growing role as Ireland’s south eastern regional capital, Waterford is well placed to implement a zero carbon, socially inclusive and environmentally astute mixed use real estate development.

Masterplan

North Quays Masterplan
Riverfront Development
8.3 Hectares Site with almost 1km river frontage
Blend of retail, office and residential space with a South-facing aspect to the river and Ireland's oldest city. A landmark location for high-profile business and lifestyle
Sustainable transport hub
Sustainable, integrated transport hub
A major transport infrastructure project brings Waterford's main line train station right into the heart of the development, putting Dublin within a 115 min train journey
SDZ
SDZ with full PP for future development expansion
The masterplan allows for substantial expansion of the development, in line with the planned growth of Waterford and the wider region

North Quays History

In January 2016 Waterford City and County Council achieved Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) designation for the North Quays area of Waterford City, this acknowledges the area nationally as a key strategic site for economic and social development. The designation of this existing brown field riverside site in the heart of the City Centre allows for a holistic plan-led approach to development on the North Quays and a fast-track planning procedure. 

In 2017 and in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000, a Draft Planning Scheme was prepared, setting out how the SDZ site is intended to be developed.  In 2018, following a statutory consultation period, the Waterford North Quays Planning Scheme was adopted by Waterford City and County Council members.

Exceptional location and accessibility

North-Quays-connectivity-map
Prominent City position with a multitude of transport links benefitting commuters and visitors
  • Pedestrian and sustainable transportation access from the historical city centre.
  • Positioned adjacent to the cross road and entrance of three main regional infrastructure axes: M9 highway Waterford / Dublin, N24 to Limerick and Cork and the N25 to Wexford

DRIVING TIME (in minutes)

  • 0-5 Entrance to Motorway M9, and key regional roads N24, N25 Main touristic points of interest in the city.
  • 5-10 South East Technological University
  • 10-20 University Hospital Waterford
  • 20-30 Waterford Airport
  • Waterford cruise call (for ships 201+ m)
  • <110 Dublin Airport

Sustainability & Public Realm

NORTH QUAYS will contribute to transform Waterford into a smart sustainable city by using information and communication technologies (ICTs) and other means to improve quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness, while ensuring that it meets the needs of present and future generations with respect to economic, social, environmental as well as cultural aspects.

North Quays features a well-pre planned public realm that will establish a community identity, enhance public safety, encourage private investment and allow citizens to embrace and celebrate their places and spaces. Committed allocation by  Urban Regeneration Development Funding and National Transport Authority funding secures North Quays three key infrastructural elements : 

  • Sustainable Transport Bridge 
  • City Centre Access Infrastructure
  • Integrated Transport Hub

North Quays Waterford