Waterford City and County Council has resolved, at the Metropolitan District meeting dated 16th September 2019, to proceed with the Part 8 development for the Transport Hub, Ferrybank, Waterford as per the recommendations in the Chief Executive’s Report.
Waterford City and County Council received positive news today from An Bord Pleanála, approving the development of the River Suir Sustainable Transport Bridge. This complements the news on Monday last that Waterford City and County Council Metropolitan District passed by resolution a Part 8 Planning Application for a new Transport Hub in the North Quays.
The Sustainable Transport Bridge will connect the City from the South Quays to the North Quays Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) and through to a new Transport hub that will replace the existing Plunkett Train Station. These developments will support a modal shift towards walking, cycling and public transport and will act as a catalyst for the sustainable development of the City to the north of the River.
The Mayor of Waterford City and County Council, Cllr John Pratt said “I am delighted to be part of the exciting and innovative regeneration which is taking place across Waterford City and today’s announcement brings us another step closer to realising Waterford’s vision for increased growth and delivering on the population targets in Project Ireland 2040”
Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive, Michael Walsh said “Today’s news is the achievement of another significant milestone in Waterford’s ongoing transition. The positive decision by An Bord Pleanála, the approval of the Part 8 Planning for the Transport Hub by the Metropolitan Council and the funding approvals for the Greenway extension into the City and for the Kilkenny Greenway will dramatically improve sustainable transport in the City and the delivery of its long-term development objectives.”
The bridge with a 207m span will be suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport and will incorporate an opening centre span necessary to allow river traffic. The Transport Hub to the north of the bridge will also allow for a new bus set down area, short term parking facilities and link with the new Waterford to New Ross Greenway.
These developments are critical infrastructural connections and will stimulate coherent sustainable living in the City, connecting Ferrybank, the North Quays with the City Centre and providing key linkages into the Viking Triangle, South East Greenway and promoting the further development of the North Quays Strategic Development Zone lands.
Planning application comes as Waterford is buoyed by investment in Airport and Greenway
Plans for a state-of-the-art Transport Hub on Waterford’s North Quays go on public display today (26 July) at Waterford City and County Council offices and online. The Transport Hub is part of a transformative urban regeneration project, which will see the redevelopment of the eight hectare North Quays site into a modern mixed use development with an hotel, offices, apartments and 50,000 square meters of retail, hospitality and entertainment space.
Waterford City and County Council’s Part 8 planning application proposes the construction of a new train station to replace the existing Plunkett Station. The planning in the city’s designated Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) also includes a new bus set down area and short-term parking facilities. This latest milestone for the North Quays’ development comes at a time of significant investment for the county and region with multi-million euro funding recently announced for Waterford Airport, Waterford Greenway, and the Kilkenny Greenway from Waterford to New Ross. Councillor John Pratt, Mayor of Waterford City and County Council said: “It’s fantastic to see the innovative North Quays development take a significant step forward with the Part 8 planning application for the Transport Hub. This will be one of Ireland’s most modern transport hubs, linking the city’s rail and bus services and dramatically improving access from north to south. It will be transformative for those living and working in Waterford — connecting with the Greenway, the proposed sustainable transport bridge and an enhanced road network.”
Further developments for the SDZ, which is a project under Project Ireland 2040, will see Falcon Real Estate Development Ireland imminently submit a planning application for the eight-hectare real estate mixed-use scheme on Waterford’s North Quays and An Bord Pleanála decide on the Planning application for the Sustainable Transport Bridge to the South Quays. In making their decision on the new Sustainable Transport Bridge across the River Suir, An Bord Pleanála has sought further information on a specific issue relating to the visual impact of the vessel protection system on the opening section of the bridge. Waterford City and County Council will be responding in the next two weeks but there will be no impact on project timelines.
Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive, Michael Walsh added: “The ground-breaking Falcon Real Estate Development Ireland scheme, together with the Transport Hub and the Sustainable Transport Bridge, will transform Waterford into a modern city quarter. The North Quays’ offices and accommodation will provide for a range of enterprises and up to 1,500 jobs primarily targeted at Foreign Direct Investment. In total, 2,300 jobs will be generated by the development and a further 1,000 in strategic industrial lands.These additional jobs alone will generate consumer spend in excess of €50m per annum and lead to an estimated annual footfall of 2,500,000.
“We are a city undergoing huge transition, with 5,000 additional jobs expected by 2025 and Waterford’s tourism numbers to double by 2025 to one million. The North Quays, the development of Mount Congreve as a world class visitor experience and the Government’s recent €2.65 million investment in the Waterford Greenway and €5 million in Waterford Airport, firmly places Waterford as the gateway city of the south east. Waterford is driving forward with the delivery of a forward-looking urban centre that will make it the most cost competitive regional city in Ireland, accelerating regional growth over the long term, and supporting a stronger national economy.”
Waterford City and County Council have submitted a bid for €104.5m to fund the North Quay development via the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, with matching funding at a local level accounting for a further €34.8m. Part 8 comes following extensive work by Waterford City and County Council with Coras Iompair Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann. Further elements in the Part 8 include associated works such as alterations to the existing bus depot site, upgrades to the drainage network and flood defence works. The planning application is available for inspection at the Council’s offices in Waterford City and Dungarvan until 23 August. It is also available to view at www.waterfordcouncil.ie/projects/public-consultations/index.htm
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NOTES TO EDITOR
Plans for the proposed Transport Hub are available for inspection at Waterford City & County Council, Customer Care Desk, Bailey’s New Street, Waterford; and Waterford City & County Council’s Civic Offices, Davitts Quay, Dungarvan. They can be viewed from 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday until 23 August 2019 (excluding Bank and Public Holidays). It is available to view online at www.waterfordcouncil.ie/projects/public-consultations/index.htm
Online submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situated may be made in writing to the local authority, online at http://bit.ly/NorthQuays-Part8s no later than 6th September 2019.
About Falcon Real Estate Development:
Falcon Real Estate Development is an independent company. It aims at developing a significant portfolio of Real Estate projects. The company strategy is to source, develop and operate a quality range of assets in European Growth Markets to reflect the strength and innovation delivered in the home markets of the company’s owners.
Waterford, Ireland 9th April 2019: Falcon Real Estate Development Ireland, the company that is backing the Waterford North Quays and Michael Street development projects, has appointed its key advisors including the leasing agency and design team for the project. Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate service firm, has been appointed as the leasing agency for the entire North Quays project. Cushman & Wakefield will be responsible for the commercialization of the retail, office, residential and hospitality components of the project and a leasing campaign targeting potential retailers is already underway.
A full team has been contracted for the design and build-out of the project. The Waterford office of Carron + Walsh has been appointed as both project manager and quantity surveyor for the project. The executive architect is Echo Architecture, an international London based firm which specialises in design and build solutions for retail and hospitality projects. The planning consultant is BMA Planning. Fewer Harrington & Partners is the technical architect. Punch Consulting Engineers has been selected as the civil, structural and traffic engineer and also the health & safety consultant. The mechanical and electrical engineer is BDP and the fire engineering consultant is JGA.
Waterford North Quays, an eight hectare real estate mixed use scheme, was conferred SDZ (Strategic Development Zone) designation by the Government in 2016. Falcon Real Estate Development has previously confirmed that work on the project is likely to start before the end of the current year, with the objective of developing a significant quality range of assets and meeting the company’s vision for Waterford to be the “go-to” destination for living, working, shopping and entertainment. The company is currently focused on the pre-development and planning phases with a view to being site active during the last quarter of 2019.
“The proposed scheme makes for an exciting addition to the South East Region and comes at a time when there is a particular focus on how people shop. It’s no longer about the basics, it’s about providing an exceptional retail experience for customers and ensuring best in class amenities & services are all under one roof. The emphasis on this development will be to ensure a diversity of mix with a strong leisure and food & beverage offer but also creating a real state of the art environment. Despite the challenging retail environment Cushman & Wakefield believe that well positioned retail developments will continue to attract both indigenous and multinational retailers,” said Karl Stewart, Head of Retail, Cushman & Wakefield Ireland.
The North Quays and Michael Street developments will mark a major economic boost for Waterford and the South East Region of Ireland. The total investment is estimated to be €350 million in the development, phased over three to five years. 2,500 full time roles will be created during the development of the new district, with an additional 4,500 indirect jobs. The planned integration of the schemes with the existing urban centre of the City will confirm Waterford as the Gateway City of the South East Region, increasing regional and national visitation and tourism, and will serve to reverse regional economic leakage. Combined with the forecasted 2040 population growth of 181,000 people for the South East, the retail market size in the South East is expected to grow from €3.49 billion in 2015 to €6.30 billion in 2025.
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Issued on behalf of Falcon Real Estate Development by Heneghan PR
Media contacts
Nigel Heneghan + 353 86 2587206 – nigel@hpr.ie
Fiona Peppard + 353 (0) 1 660 7395 – fpeppard@hpr.ie
Note to editors
About Falcon Real Estate Development
Falcon Real Estate Development is an independent company. It aims at developing a significant portfolio of Real Estate projects. The company strategy is to source, develop and operate a quality range of assets in European Growth Markets to reflect the strength and innovation delivered in the home markets of the company’s owners.
Waterford North Quays is a project of Falcon Real Estate Development Ireland. With over 8 hectares, it will be the largest mixed use real estate development in the South East of Ireland.
A €350m investment, delivering 2,300 full time jobs by 2022
Waterford, Ireland 12th March 2019:
Falcon Real Estate Development Ireland reasserts its commitment to the Waterford North Quays and Michael Street developments and confirms that work on the project is likely to start before the end of the current year. An independent real estate developer and operator, Falcon Real Estate Development Ireland aims to develop a significant quality range of assets, meeting the company’s vision for Waterford to be the “go-to” destination for living, working, shopping and entertainment and is currently focused on the pre-development and planning phases with a view to being site active during the last quarter of 2019.
Waterford North Quays, an eight hectare real estate mixed use scheme, was conferred SDZ (Strategic Development Zone) designation by the Government in 2016. It will comprise a sustainable mix of 46,900 square metres convenience & comparison retail facilities, leisure, dining destinations and a Waterford Visitor Experience. Complementary to the scheme and core to its values of diversity a 200-room Four Star Hotel & Conference Centre, 15,000 square metres prime Office space, and 300 riverside apartments will be delivered in a contemporaneous and phased approach.
Waterford North Quays is set to become one of Ireland’s most modern transport hubs, connecting the site locally and nationally with Rail, Bus, Greenway, Pedestrian and Electric Bus with a link-bridge to Waterford city centre across the River Suir. It will blend carefully planned infrastructure investments with tourism, retail, business and living needs. Visitors will be able to enjoy easy parking, quality restaurants and cafes with over 35,000 square metres of green open space and a riverside promenade and integral part of the recently opened Waterford-Dungarvan Greenway. Falcon Real Estate Development’s vision is to create a new focus for Waterford city and a destination that is firmly integrated with the local community, offering opportunities for living, working and socializing.
The North Quay development will mark a major economic boost for Waterford and the South East Region of Ireland. The total estimated investment is estimated to be €350 million in the development, phased over three to five years. 2,300 full time roles will be created during the development of the new district, with an additional 4,500 indirect jobs. The planned completed integration of the scheme with the existing urban centre of the City, will confirm Waterford as the Gateway City of the South East Region, increasing regional and national visitation, tourism and will serve to reverse regional economic leakage. Combined with the forecasted 2040 population growth of 181,000 people for the South East, the retail market size in the South East is expected to grow from €3.49 billion in 2015 to €6.30 billion in 2025.
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Issued on behalf of Falcon Real Estate Development by Heneghan PR
Media contacts
Note to editors
About Falcon Real Estate Development
Falcon Real Estate Development is an independent company. It aims at developing a significant portfolio of Real Estate projects. The company strategy is to source, develop and operate a quality range of assets in European Growth Markets to reflect the strength and innovation delivered in the home markets of the company’s owners.