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

Lidl overcomes opposition to win new store go-ahead

German discount retail giant Lidl has overcome opposition from independent retailers' body RGDATA to secure planning for a new store at Greystones in Co Wicklow.

This follows An Bord Pleanála granting Lidl the go-ahead for the store in spite of opposition from RGDATA, local school Temple Caraig and Councillor Derek Mitchell (FG).

The decision by An Bord Pleanála followed Lidl opening its 150th store here last month with new stores at Glenageary in Dublin and Virginia in Co Cavan.

Irish Independent

Judicial challenge to Dún Laoghaire Harbour plan

THE Save Our Seafront group was granted leave by the High Court last week to challenge a decision by An Bord Pleanála to approve cruise ship docking in Dún Laoghaire Harbour.
Mr Justice Max Barrett granted the group leave to judicially review the board’s decision on a number of grounds and adjourned the matter until January 31.
Last year planning permission was granted for the controversial multi-million plan to develop the harbour.
The new cruise berth is aiming to attract super cruise liners, which are restricted from docking in or near the capital due to a lack of capacity.
After several delays An Bord Pleanála eventually gave the €18 million cruise berth project the green light with several extensive conditions.
But Save our Seafront claimed that while last November’s decision by An Bord Pleanála restricted the size of ships accessing the harbour, it could still result in a significant loss of amenity to existing harbour users.
The chairman of Save Our Seafront, local TD Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP), claimed that the board’s decision did not properly take into account the environmental implications of dredging and other aspects of the plan.
 “We applied for a judicial review in order to protect Dún Laoghaire Harbour for the people and the natural environment,” Deputy Boyd Barret stated.
“A giant cruise berth in Dún Laoghaire Harbour would negatively impact on all users of the harbour - walkers, boat users and the varied wildlife.
“Our harbour is a wonderfully historic and cultural asset and should be developed to enhance all aspects of our harbour rather than limiting it to giant cruise ships.”
Senator Victory Boyhan, a former Dún Laoghaire Rathdown county councillor, strongly argued against granting planning permission for a super-size cruise ship terminal in the harbour.
He stated: “It was the (An Bord Pleanana’s) inspector’s opinion that the sensitivity of the harbour having regard to its architectural heritage, social importance, recreational value and its proximity to designated sites of European importance were not taken into sufficient consideration.”
A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanála said they did not comment on cases that are the subject of a judicial review.
“In fact, the board has a firm practice of avoiding comment on cases that it has decided,” the spokesperson said. “This is to do with the quasi-judicial nature of the work.”

Dublin People

Planning approval granted for €30m retail scheme in Bray

Planning permission for the development of a 250,000 square foot retail scheme in the heart of Bray, Co. Wicklow has been granted by An Bord Pleanála.

Property consultants, Savills have been appointed by Wicklow County Council to seek a development partner to progress the project. The site, previously known as the ‘Florentine Centre’, has been the subject of a number of retail-led development proposals since 1996.
Wicklow County Council – who recently purchased the site – sought the approval of An Bord Pleanála for a scaled down retail development providing opportunities for anchor stores, retail units, restaurants, offices, cinema and associated car parking.
The plans also incorporate the development of a new urban street – accessed from Bray Main Street – and a central plaza with pedestrian access from Quinsborough Road.

The gross development value (GDV) of the scheme is estimated at approximately €30m and Savills aim to have a development partner and contractor in place by March 2017, with a view to a scheme completion by the fourth quarter of 2018.

Director at Savills Ireland, Larry Brennan commented, "We are delighted with An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission for the development of this exciting new retail scheme, which we believe will transform the retail and evening economy of Bray, where the main street would benefit from larger restaurants, larger retail units and leisure offerings. The recovering retail economy is now supporting real occupier demand, which can offer favourable returns to the appropriate development partner."

www.businessworld.ie

Public asked to submit views on College Green plaza

New civic plaza in city centre not expected to be in place before end of 2018 at earliest. Dublin City Council is calling on members of the public to get in touch with their views on the re-development of College Green into a new civic plaza. The council has opened an online survey to hear the views of the public ahead of submitting plans to An Bord Pleanála for approval. While the proposed €8 million pedestrian and cycle plaza for College Green is not expected to be in place before the end of 2018, the council is about to appoint a design team to develop proposals for the new civic space and is looking for ideas from the wider public.

Irish Times

Scheme to draw first-time buyers to towns and villages

First-time buyers and young families are to get a grant to renovate vacant properties as part of a scheme to revitalise rural towns and villages. Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys wants people to return to live in rural centres and will be introducing the scheme on a pilot basis. Promoting education, job creation and improving infrastructure and transport links throughout the country will also be included in Ms Humphreys’ action plan for rural development, due to be published early in the new year.

Irish Examiner

Cork incinerator decision postponed for a third time

A decision on the fate of a controversial incinerator proposed for the lower Cork Harbour area has been postponed for the third time. An Bord Pleanála was due to reach a decision on the €160 million Indaver project by January 24, having missed two previous due-dates on July 12 and again on October 26 last. However when contacted by the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for the planning board said: “A decision is not imminent.”

Irish Examiner