LIMERICK City Council have agreed to give the go-ahead for a massive €350 million city centre retail complex, which will be known as the Opera Centre.
The city manager, Tom Mackey, is to sign off on the successful planning application in the coming days.
The new centre will be the biggest of its kind in the mid-west with a floor space of about 37,000 sq metres.
Limerick auctioneer Pat Kearney put together a property portfolio which comprises an entire block leading onto Patrick Street.
Mr Kearney said: “This is fantastic and just what we want for the future of Limerick city. I put together the property over a period of four years and dealt with 40 different landlords and owners.
“Belfast property developer Suneil Sharma was the driving force behind the Opera Centre plan.
He sold out his interest to Dublin property developer Jerry O’Reilly who is now promoting the development.”
It is expected to take at least three years to develop and Limerick City Council said that it will attract top brand names such as Marks & Spencer.
The council’s Strategic Planning Committee was told yesterday by officials that it had been decided to give the project the go-ahead.
During the construction stage it is expected to employ up to 300 building workers and when open for business it is anticipated that up to 800 workers will be employed in a wide range of retail outlets. The owners of a local night club said they will seek compensation if Limerick City Council proceed with a compulsory purchase order to take over a small area near their premises.
They claim that the site in question is vital for their business as it is where people queue at night and where deliveries are taken in.
They claim they will be forced out of business if the site in question is taken over.
The Opera Centre forms a central part of the city centre revival plan drawn up by Limerick City Council.
The city council recently successfully opposed a plan by Marks & Spencer to develop a huge outlet at the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle, claiming it went against the retail strategy for the mid-west and against city centre trading and development.
The growth of suburban shopping centres has severely impacted on city centre shopping with many top brand outlets moving out of the city centre to suburban malls.
Irish Examiner
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