Model of proposed city plan set for display

A MODEL of a 1,900 job development which will transform Waterford city, if given the green light by planning officials, is to go on display in the city on Friday.

KRM Construction Partnership last night announced that they intend lodging a planning application with Waterford City Council in October for a €280 million city centre development that will create 1,300 jobs on completion and over 600 jobs during the construction phase.

The development — earmarked for a 5.1-acre site bordering Michael Street, New Street, Stephen Street and Brown’s Lane — will feature 60 shops including three anchor units.

The project also includes a 150-bedroom four star hotel with a substantial conference centre and leisure facilities; arts/cultural facilities and underground parking for over 500 vehicles. Also included is a rooftop viewing area that will offer unrivalled 360-degree panoramas of Waterford’s historic city centre.

KRM Construction Partnership chief executive, Paul Miskella, outlined details of their plans earlier this week to the elected members of Waterford City Council and delegations from Waterford Chamber; Waterford Alliance for Sustainable Inner City Development (WASICD) and Rotary Club of Waterford.

“We’ve been very encouraged by the constructive feedback we have received during the initial stages of our public consultation and there is a real interest in engaging with us on the plans now being finalised.

“There also appears to be a genuine appreciation of the importance to Waterford of development that helps maintain a vibrant city centre core.

“It is clearly understood that if Waterford’s status as the south-east’s regional gateway is to be preserved and built on then it must have the type of substantial city centre retail, hospitality and leisure facilities that we propose and these must be centrally located,” he continued.

KRM Construction Partnership has commissioned a scale model of their proposed development and this will be on display along with drawings of the scheme in the Tower Hotel, Waterford on Friday from 4-8pm and Saturday from 12-4pm.

Members of the project team will be present at these information sessions.

The model and drawings will then be available for viewing at 8 New Street, Waterford from 10am-1pm and 2-5pm, Monday-Friday for three weeks from Monday, September 11.