Friday 20 January 2017

News Florentine Centre gets planning Go-Ahead

Planning permission has been granted to Wicklow County Council by An Bord Pleanala for a 13000m2 retail and cinema development at the heart of Bray’s Main Street.  The development is estimated to cost €24M.
The Cathaoirleach Wicklow County Council, Cllr Pat Fitzgerald,  welcomed the decision and looked forward to the realisation of this scheme which has been foremost on the agenda of local councillors for 20 years and which will have a hugely beneficial  impact on Bray as a town.
The Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, Cllr Steven Matthews, expressed his satisfaction with the decision saying:  We could not have picked a better time to come to the market with this project”.
 This site has been the subject of three previous  planning applications by Ballymore Properties. After a number of false starts, the site reverted to use as a car park five years ago. Bray Town Council acquired the site in late 2013 and the Wicklow County Council appointed team, led by Des O’Brien, Bray Municipal District Manager, has brought it to the planning stage and is now in the process of engaging  with potential development partners.
The development will be built around a new pedestrianised street which will open up from the Main Street and end in a public space.  The new street will comprise of two anchor stores of 3,000 and 1,000 square metres respectively, 8 retail units totalling 3,449 square metres and  3 restaurants totalling 545 square metres,  a 5 screen multiplex cinema and undercroft parking.
The final design configuration will be determined by the retail mix and the requirements of the occupiers. The principal aim of the scheme is to complement the existing retail offering and to reinvigorate the shopping experience in Bray. The presence of the cinema and restaurants will add vibrancy to the town’s evening economy, which is of significance to Bray as a Purple Flag town.
Wicklow County Council, Chief Executive, Mr Bryan Doyle, added: “ This will reinforce the role of the Town Centre as the key meeting and shopping place for the citizens of Bray, now that we have the green light we hope that we will see the new development open in  2019”.

www.wicklownews.net

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