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Economic Development

By Waterford City & County Council

Final decision on Waterford North Quays city centre expansion expected this Spring

Falcon Real Estate Development Ireland Limited lodged a planning application with Waterford City and County Council just before Christmas 2019 which would see the North Quays become the single largest private sector mixed-use commercial and residential development that the city has ever seen.

Development Proposals

The proposed development would cover a 7.8 hectare redundant city centre site and would include:

  • a 220 bedroom hotel;
  • a mixed use commercial building with multiple retail units,
  • a food court,
  • an eight screen cinema
  • a visitor centre;
  • a seven storey office block;
  • 298 apartments in five separate blocks;
  • an energy building
  • a riverside promenade, public park, public plazas with linkages for pedestrians and cyclists to existing and future ‘Greenways’ and the proposed Sustainable Transport Bridge which will link with the South Quays at the Clock Tower.

As would be expected with a proposal on this scale, there are a number of points of detail that still need to be worked out and the Council recently issued a request for “Further Information” to the applicant to allow these matters to be fully clarified and addressed as part of the overall application process.

Once this additional information is submitted, the Council will immediately begin assessing same with a view to issuing a decision on the planning application as soon as possible thereafter.

For some time now, the North Quays has been acknowledged as a key strategic site for economic and social development at national and regional level, and the site was designated as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) by the Government in 2016, with the Council adopting a special SDZ Planning Scheme for the area in 2018.

The renewal of the North Quays is essential to the sustainable expansion of the city core, and will be served by an integrated multi-modal transport hub.  This will be centered around a relocated railway station and new bridges, greatly improving access to the city centre. The North Quays have the potential to become a high profile destination for living, working, shopping and entertainment that will boost Waterford’s profile and provide a new urban district to support integration of the Waterford Metropolitan Area both north and south of the river.

Funding Announcement

Continuing government support for this major initiative was most recently demonstrated by the announcement made last week that funding of €12.6 million has been awarded to fund infrastructure for the North Quays, including the Dock Road and Abbey Road access works.  The Sustainable Transport Bridge was also included in this allocation of funding.

The Mayor of the City and County of Waterford, Cllr. John Pratt, welcomed the funding announcement stating, “The funding represents a confidence in Waterford’s ability to realise our ambitious programme of developments, which when realised will transform our city into a major urban centre of consequence and a driver for regional development”.

By Waterford City & County Council

Ireland South East in top 10 European Regions of the Future

The latest fDi magazine rankings endorse Ireland South East’s position as a European region of the future.

The Ireland South East Development Office announced today that region has received a number of high profile awards in the latest fDi European Cities and Regions of the future rankings. fDi magazine – a publication from the Financial Times –  released its annual rankings for 2020/21 which showed Ireland South East is now recognised as a region with a clear fDi strategy, of economic potential, and a region for the future.

Frank O’Regan, chair of the Ireland South East Development Office commented: “We are the fastest growing region in the fastest growing economy in Europe. We are also Ireland’s best value region, all within 1 hour of Dublin and offering a quality of life with beaches, mountains and top class food and culture which is hard to find elsewhere. We are home to three Institutes of Technology which are working hand in glove with industry. But I suppose the key thing about this region is its people – who are open and innovative and who work to make life as easy as possible for any prospective investor”.

No.1 for Regional FDI Strategy

Ireland South East was crowned the winner in the Regions of the Future rankings for FDI strategy for regions of under 1.5 million people. The Financial Times analysts highlighted the collaborative approach taken by the five local authorities of the South East and the focus on creating organised economic clusters and developing innovation and R&D supports to enhance them as being key drivers to improving the region’s business environment, talent and infrastructure.

Region of Economic Potential and Region of the Future

In the category of regions of under 1.5 million people, Ireland South East was awarded the 8th position for economic potential, and placed in the top 10 for Regions of the Future. This was based on a range of indicators such as growth rates, FDI flows and innovation. Ireland South East’s continued growth in job creation and labour force combined with FDI performance among its strong economic clusters – Life Sciences, ICT, Financial Services – mark it out as a region of the future with great economic potential.

Waterford is a Regional City of the Future

In further good news for the region Waterford was ranked as 8th Overall in the Micro European Cities of the Future category as well as 5th for Economic Potential and 7th for FDI strategy.

Biennial ranking of the cities of the future by the Financial Times

Every two years, fDi Magazine, publishes its ranking of the European cities and Regions of the Future. To create a shortlist the fDi Intelligence division of the Financial Times collects data for 505 locations (319 cities, 148 regions and 38 LEPs), under five categories: Economic Potential, Human Capital and Lifestyle, Cost Effectiveness, Connectivity and Business Friendliness.

To celebrate the awards, the Ireland South East Development Office are officially launching our ‘Invest in Ireland South East’ promotional video, with soundtrack provided by RSAG, click here to view.

By Waterford City & County Council

REMINDER: Cappoquin Town Regeneration – Public Meeting, 20th Feb

REMINDER: Tonight, Thursday night, 20th February, Waterford City and County Council will host a public meeting in the Community Centre in Cappoquin from 7.30-9.15 pm, to discuss the regeneration of the town and potential associated projects and opportunities.

The Council is hoping that everybody interested in the future development of the town would attend this meeting so to provide the Council with ideas for future development. The Council will also be using the meeting as an opportunity to discuss with the community recent developments and funding opportunities.

The meeting will be facilitated by Ian Dempsey of Prescience who last year undertook a property study in Cappoquin and is quite familiar with the town but who is also familiar with the broader rural development environment in Ireland and with rural town regeneration best practice.

Council officials will be present at the venue from 6.30 p.m. should any member of the public wish to discuss any matter ahead of the meeting.

Here’s hoping that the community of Cappoquin sees this as an opportunity to influence the future direction of the town and that all sections of the community are well represented on the night.

By Waterford City & County Council

Cappoquin Town Regeneration – Public Meeting, 20th Feb

On next Thursday night, 20th February, Waterford City and County Council will host a public meeting in the Community Centre in Cappoquin from 7.30-9.15 pm, to discuss the regeneration of the town and potential associated projects and opportunities.

The Council is hoping that everybody interested in the future development of the town would attend this meeting so to provide the Council with ideas for future development. The Council will also be using the meeting as an opportunity to discuss with the community recent developments and funding opportunities.

The meeting will be facilitated by Ian Dempsey of Prescience who last year undertook a property study in Cappoquin and is quite familiar with the town but who is also familiar with the broader rural development environment in Ireland and with rural town regeneration best practice.

Council officials will be present at the venue from 6.30 p.m. should any member of the public wish to discuss any matter ahead of the meeting.

Here’s hoping that the community of Cappoquin sees this as an opportunity to influence the future direction of the town and that all sections of the community are well represented on the night.

By Waterford City & County Council

Notice of intention to make rate for 2020

NOTICE OF DEPOSIT OF RATE BOOKS FOR INSPECTION AND INTENTION TO MAKE RATE FOR 2020

NOTICE is hereby given that Waterford City & County Council will make a Municipal Rate on the property rateable in the City & County of Waterford.

The annual rate on valuation for the service of the year ending 31st December 2020 on all rateable property within Waterford City and County Council’s administrative area is 0.2648.

The Rate Books are deposited for inspection by any ratepayer in the Customer Care Office, Baileys New Street, Waterford and in the Customer Care Office, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford and will be open for inspection between the hours of 9.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. excluding Saturdays and Sundays during the fourteen days from the 5th of February 2020.

By Waterford City & County Council

REMINDER: Eco Eye episode featuring Waterford airs, 7:00pm tonight

*REMINDER – AIRS TONIGHT*

Eco Eye episode featuring Waterford airs on Tuesday 28th January at 7:00pm on RTE1.

Advanced notices of Waterford featuring heavily in the Eco Eye programme on RTE1, tomorrow evening, Tuesday 28th January.

The Office of the Planning Regulator and Healthy Ireland have sponsored this episode of Eco Eye under the theme “Sustainable Spatial Planning” and a lot of the programme was filmed in and around Waterford.   Included are interviews with Eamonn McEneaney, Director of the Waterford Treasures Museum,  and Brianna Connaughton, the Healthy Waterford Coordinator.  Some interviews with members of the public from Waterford and Boyle in Co. Roscommon are also featured.

The message of the programme is that all of the County/City Development Plans and Local Area Plans are being/will be reviewed and that people have the opportunity to make submissions and to determine how their counties/cities and local areas are developed into the future.

Tune in on Tuesday for more.

By Waterford City & County Council

Eco Eye episode featuring Waterford airs, 7:00pm Tuesday 28th January

Eco Eye episode featuring Waterford airs on Tuesday 28th January at 7:00pm on RTE1.

Advanced notices of Waterford featuring heavily in the Eco Eye programme on RTE1, tomorrow evening, Tuesday 28th January.

The Office of the Planning Regulator and Healthy Ireland have sponsored this episode of Eco Eye under the theme “Sustainable Spatial Planning” and a lot of the programme was filmed in and around Waterford.   Included are interviews with Eamonn McEneaney, Director of the Waterford Treasures Museum,  and Brianna Connaughton, the Healthy Waterford Coordinator.  Some interviews with members of the public from Waterford and Boyle in Co. Roscommon are also featured.

The message of the programme is that all of the County/City Development Plans and Local Area Plans are being/will be reviewed and that people have the opportunity to make submissions and to determine how their counties/cities and local areas are developed into the future.

Tune in on Tuesday for more.

By Waterford City & County Council

Statement: Waterford North Quays Planning Application

Statement: Waterford North Quays Planning Application

A planning application was lodged yesterday, the 17th of December, for development of lands on the 7.8 hectare site known as Waterford North Quays, Dock Road, Ferrybank, Waterford. The applicant is Falcon Real Estate Development Ireland Limited. The application relates to development in Waterford North Quays Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) and is subject to Waterford North Quays Planning Scheme 2018.

The proposed development comprises a mixed use development of 129,302sqm gross floor area. A ten year permission has been applied for. The application is currently subject to a validation process, with updates being published to the Council’s website www.waterfordcouncil.ie

The planning application is available for inspection at our offices in the Menapia Building, the Mall, Waterford and is also displayed online, with public submissions being  invited up to the 29th of January 2020.

Planning Department
Waterford City and County Council
18th December 2019

By Waterford City & County Council

Reminder: Public Information Event – Tramore Town Centre Public Realm Works

Waterford City & County Council would like to invite all interested members of the public and business owners to attend a Public Information Event on the public realm works planned for Tramore town centre.

The event will take place on Thursday 5th December from 3pm to 5pm and will be held on the ground floor of Tramore Library.

Staff from Waterford Council’s Design Team, along with the contractor’s staff (Niall Barry & Co. Ltd) will be present to answer any queries on the day.

By Waterford City & County Council

Public Information Event – Tramore Town Centre Public Realm Works

Waterford City & County Council would like to invite all interested members of the public and business owners to attend a Public Information Event on the public realm works planned for Tramore town centre.

The event will take place on Thursday 5th December from 3pm to 7pm and will be held on the ground floor of Tramore Library.

Staff from Waterford Council’s Design Team, along with the contractor’s staff (Niall Barry & Co. Ltd) will be present to answer any queries on the day.

By Waterford City & County Council

New website for Ireland South East

More than sunshine on offer for business and professionals in Ireland South East

A new website, www.irelandsoutheast.com, has been launched for investors and professionals to learn more about the South East region as a place to live, work and invest. The site offers practical information and case studies of successful businesses and professionals in the region such as Innovate, Eirgen Pharma, Cartoon Saloon and Alltech.

The website takes an innovative, story based approach in showing the benefits of the region through the people and businesses who are finding success here.

Seamus Kilgannon, founder of Schivo and owner of the WorkLAB office space in Waterford stated “Ireland South East is the sixth fastest growing region in the EU and the most affordable city region in Ireland. Globally renowned brands based here are offering really exciting and challenging careers, and all of this takes places in a beautifully scenic region with great communities. People can be employed by global companies and be cycling a Greenway ten minutes after they finish work.”

Alan Quirke, Director of the Ireland South East Development Office which created the website explains, “I think there is strong familiarity about the South East as an affordable and great place to live. What is less well known are the opportunities and benefits for businesses and professionals in a region with almost 600,000 people and where the key urban centres are all within close proximity of each other.”

“For businesses, we are one of the fastest growing regions in Europe, we are Ireland’s best value region and we also have a broad pool of talent. Equally importantly, we have a unique collaborative culture and we can make it easy for investors to start, grow and scale here. When you look deeper and hear of some of the dynamic stories, you get to see how Ireland South East offers such a great mosaic of global success stories, community and lifestyle that you can’t access as easily anywhere else.”

The new website is accompanied by an fast-paced video filmed around the South East in summer 2019 which serves as a whistle-stop tour of everything good the region has to offer, all accompanied by a high octane soundtrack from South East-based artist Rarely Seen Above Ground (RSAG).

The Ireland South East Development Office is a regional collaboration initiative of the five local authorities of the South East (Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford) and is the first office of its kind in Ireland.

Full details can be found at www.irelandsoutheast.com

By Waterford City & County Council

Public Information Event – Tramore Town Centre Public Realm Works

Waterford City & County Council would like to invite all interested members of the public and business owners to attend a Public Information Event on the public realm works planned for Tramore town centre.

The event will take place on Thursday 5th December from 3pm to 7pm and will be held on the ground floor of Tramore Library.

Staff from Waterford Council’s Design Team, along with the contractor’s staff (Niall Barry & Co. Ltd) will be present to answer any queries on the day.

By Waterford City & County Council

Mount Congreve successful in award of €3,726,000 RRDF funding

Mount Congreve successful in award of €3,726,000 RRDF funding

Mr Michael Ring TD, the Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development today (Wednesday 6th November) announced funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund 2019.

Waterford City and County Council and Fáilte Ireland, as joint funding partners, were successful in the application for funding of €3,726,000 for the development of Mount Congreve house and gardens.

The funding of €3,726,000 will ensure Mount Congreve is a world class tourism destination with an enhanced visitor experience. The funding will allow for the redevelopment and restoration of the Mount Congreve Estate and will provide enhanced visitor amenities including repair of the historic greenhouse, improved access to grounds and pathways and provision of family friendly facilities.

The Mayor of the City and County of Waterford, Cllr. John Pratt said “This funding is particularly welcome and I am delighted to be in a position to develop Mount Congreve as a world class tourism destination for now and for future generations.”

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, part of Project Ireland 2040, commits a fund of €1 billion which will provide for investment in towns and villages, enhancing sustainable social and economic development, and can demonstrate coordination and integration between the community and public sector.

Notes to Editor – Mount Congreve application detail

Ambition

To develop a tourism destination which attracts 150,000 visitors annually.

  • Enhance the visitor experience to these gardens and planted woodlands which are of international importance.
  • Invest in the under developed assets on the Estate to generate additional employment and revenue opportunities as well as increased visitor numbers.
  • Ensure the long-term viability of this enormously important visitor attraction.

Location

  • The Mount Congreve Estate is situated five miles west of Waterford City on the River Suir and is easily accessible from the N25.
  • The 46km Waterford Greenway passes along the boundary of the Mount Congreve Estate and there is visitor access.
  • The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway travels along the edge of the Mount Congreve Estate.

This project proposes the following:

  • Development of the farmyard to incorporate the following facilities: new café; offices and meeting facilities; craft yard; small playground and retail unit.
  • Enhancement of the grounds and existing paths to facilitate improved accessibility and increased visitor numbers, along with a woodland playground.
  • Repair of the existing historic greenhouse.
  • Provision of controlled access to wetland zone, a unique natural ‘garden’.
  • Provision of a waste water treatment facility for 150,000 visitors.
  • Provision of new car/coach park for up to 200 cars and 5 coaches.
  • Total Proposal Cost is €4,968,000.

Project Ireland 2040 – The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. It includes a detailed capital investment plan for the next ten years, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027, and the National Planning Framework which outlines the broader policy principles and priorities in planning for future population and economic growth to 2040.

By Waterford City & County Council

Mayor of Waterford welcomes Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2019 announcement

Town and Village Renewal SchemeCllr. John Pratt, Mayor of Waterford welcomes the announcement by Minister Ring of the allocation of funding under Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2019

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD, today (31 October 2019) announced that 156 rural towns and villages across the country are set to benefit from €15 million in funding under the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.  Waterford City and County Council  were successful in 5 of its applications benefitting Fenor, Lemybrien, Cappoquin, Dunhill and Bunmahon  to the tune of €500,000.

Announcing the funding, Minister Ring said “Interest in the Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year was very high and the scheme was heavily over-subscribed.  It was not possible to fund all of the applications received, but I am pleased that many of the towns and villages which have been successful this year are receiving funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for the first time.  I want to thank the Local Authorities for engaging with local communities in these instances to help them to identify good projects which have merited support.”

The 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which was launched earlier this year, focuses on projects which can help to enhance rural towns and villages, with a particular emphasis on stimulating economic development. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key part of the Action Plan for Rural Development and the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 Rural Regeneration Programme. Funding awarded to individual towns and villages this year generally ranges from €20,000 to €100,000, with 26 projects receiving between €100,000 and €200,000 for more ambitious proposals.

The Waterford projects being supported in today’s announcement are:

  • €100,000 for Cappoquin public realm regeneration.
  • €100,000 for site service works and playground upgrade at Bunmahon.
  • €100,000 for road bowling facilities upgrade and public realm works in Fenor.
  • €100,000 to create access to Dunhill village from Anne Valley Walk and upgrade access to Dolmen Trail.
  • €100,000 awarded to Lemybrien for a playground development.

Welcoming the funding Councillor John Pratt, Mayor of the City and County of Waterford said: “This is positive news for our towns and villages across Waterford and the projects which were identified by local community groups and businesses will make their towns and villages  more attractive and more sustainable places in which to live and work.

Ends

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