Phase two of €300m shopping development to start in new year

PHASE TWO of Dungarvan’s €300 million shopping complex development is to begin in 2005.

The shopping centre, which opened last month and already has more than 20 of a planned total of 34 retail units up and running, employs 350 people and that figure will significantly increase when phases two and three have been completed.

Dunnes Stores, which is the anchor tenant, employs almost 200 in what is one of the biggest outlets in the company’s nationwide chain. Town clerk Joe O’Flaherty confirmed to a meeting of Dungarvan Town Council that phase two of the overall development will include a major store by German supermarket giant Lidl; a McDonald’s drive-through restaurant; a new furniture/DIY store; another Dunnes Store venture believed to be a garden centre, and a four-screen cineplex.

Mr O’Flaherty said the second phase would also include additional commercial units and apartments, and the expectation is that most of the work will commence early in the new year. He said a large area of the overall 43-acre site formerly owned by Glanbia has also been earmarked for the Ordinance Survey offices which have been assigned to Dungarvan under the latest Government decentralisation package.

“As of now, however, there is nothing concrete on this,” said Mr O’Flaherty, “but we are hopeful that it will materialise in time.”

He said the planning application for the new Lidl store has already been lodged and the council is requesting further information from the company.

Full planning permission has been granted for the McDonald’s drive-through restaurant and work on its construction will begin shortly.

The town clerk further disclosed the final stage of the development will incorporate a new hotel on the site of the former Waterford County Council offices, Áras Brugha, which form part of the site. Responding to councillors queries about a specific timescale for all the work, Mr O’Flaherty said that Billy Clancy on behalf of the developers, Clancy Construction Ltd, will meet with the council early in 2005 to outline all the relevant details.