‘Destination Waterford’ as city centre set for huge redevelopment

NEWGATE Centre has been selected as the name for a new retail development in Waterford city centre.

The decision follows a public competition that generated over 720 entries in relation to the KRM Construction Partnership development.

The project, which also includes a hotel, apartments, offices and leisure facilities on a 5.1 acre site, was granted planning permission by Waterford City Council in early July and is currently under appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

The area mooted for the project borders Michael Street, New Street, Stephen Street and Brown’s Lane.

Previously earmarked for completion by the end of 2009, the scheme will feature 60 shops, including three anchor units, and has been marketed to date as “Destination Waterford”.

A draw took place live on WLR FM’s Deise AM radio programme among those entrants who suggested the selected name and Aileen McHugh from The Estuary, Kings Channel, Waterford won a pre-Christmas shopping trip for two to New York.

KRM Construction Partnership CEO Paul Miskella said the naming competition had captured the public’s imagination during the summer and that Newgate Centre was ultimately selected as it ties in with an existing street name in the area, resonates with the historic city walls nearby and links with Waterford’s designation as gateway to the southeast.

“The 729 suggestions — including 15 centring on the Newgate name — put forward by entrants in the competition spanned a very wide range and had clearly been given a great deal of thought, which we appreciate. In fact, it gave us some tough choices when we came to shortlist potential names from those nominated. We’re delighted with the name Newgate Centre though,” he said. In addition to the retail area covered by the “Name the Centre” competition, the planned development includes a 153-bedroom four star hotel, cultural and community facilities and underground parking for over 600 vehicles.

Twenty-two city centre homes are also included, as is a rooftop viewing area that will offer 360-degree panoramas of Waterford’s city centre.