Limerick retail fears at outskirts mall plan

A MOVE to develop a “ghost” shopping site in a Limerick suburb is causing fears it may further erode city centre retailing.

Developer Suneil Sharma has acquired the Parkway Valley Shopping centre, which has lain vacant for three years.

Northern Ireland-based Mr Sharma was the original investor in the proposed Opera Shopping Centre, which was due to be built on a huge city centre site.

He sold the site before the proposed plan fell victim to the property crash. The condition of buildings on the site is now causing concern.

Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Jim Long, said the city’s suburbs already have too heavy a concentration of shopping centres which, in turn, has caused a major slump in the city centre.

He said: “I would like to meet with Mr Sharma to find out what his plans are for the Parkway Valley site.”

Limerick City Council objected to a major expansion of the Dooradoyle Shopping Centre, claiming it would damage retailing in the city centre.

Limerick Chamber of Commerce also has fears about further retailing developments in the city suburbs.

“We have concerns about the potential negative impact that this development will have on the city centre,” said Chamber of Commerce president Kieran Mac Sweeney.

“As much as we welcome news that Limerick is at the forefront of one of the largest developments of size and scale in the county, we have grave concerns that this will be at the expense of a deteriorating city centre, which will ultimately have serious long-term negative consequences for the region.

“The new Implementation Committee, as chaired by Denis Brosnan, recognised the importance of strong regions with strong cities at their core.

“Limerick’s core has been identified in several reports as a hindrance to the growth of the region. We fear that this announcement will further exacerbate the existing doughnut effect to the detrainment of the future viability of Limerick city. The chamber calls on the newly established Implementation Committee to show leadership on this matter to ensure joined-up thinking protecting the interests of the city, as the capital of the region.”

Mr Mac Sweeney said there are several commercial opportunities within Limerick city to develop viable and sustainable retail centres, such as the vacant Opera Centre site.

He added: “The chamber will do all we can to ensure that the Opera centre site is developed”.