‘Disappointing to see’: Councillors surprised by Waterford objection to Kilkenny shopping centre

Councillors from the Piltown Municipal District expressed their disappointment and surprise following a failed appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála against Ferrybank Shopping Centre by Waterford City and County Council (WCCC).

The last minute appeal by WCCC claimed that the development had the potential to undermine the ‘vitality and viability of Waterford City Centre,’ but was deemed invalid as it failed to include the acknowledgement by the planning authority of receipt of submissions on observations, an important requirement under the Planning and Development Act.

Permission was granted by Kilkenny County Council on August 25 to allow Dunnes Stores, the owner of the site since 2023, to move forward with developing part of the long vacant unit into a retail store with accompanying leisure facilities.

WCCC’s appeal was lodged on the last possible day before submissions closed. Area Engineer John Tennyson highlighted in his update that Ferrybank Shopping Centre had been recognised as a district centre on the joint retail strategy which was developed in collaboration between the Kilkenny and Waterford councils.

Mr Tennyson continued by pointing out that the strategy identified the under-provision of retail services in the area and stated that the Ferrybank district centre was the most suitably located and sustainable way to meet the retail needs of the local population in the Ferrybank-Belview area.

After the update, councillors made their displeasure about the appeal clear, but also expressed relief that it had failed and that the development was clear to progress.

Cllr Ger Frisby (FF) emphasised the benefits that the shopping centre will bring to the area after the loss of many retail options in recent years.

“It was disappointing to see that there was an appeal made,” he said. “In the last two years we’ve lost a corner shop, a pub, and another one is going. We’ve lost a deli and a butcher’s.

“What are people in Ferrybank going to do if we don’t try and get this centre open and get a trade in for the environs of Ferrybank, South Kilkenny and indeed Waterford City itself?

“I’m delighted that the appeal was deemed invalid, I don’t think it’s warranted and we want to get on with getting the Ferrybank Shopping Centre up and running as soon as possible,” he added.

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Labour Cllr Tomás Breathnach focused on the multifunctional aspect of the development past retail services and looked ahead to the central role it could play in the area.

“It would be more than just simply a shopping centre, because the retail area would be on the ground floor level,” he said. “It’s a significant provision on the next floor for leisure and it’s an objective within the local area plan to bring community facilities into the shopping centre.

“What happened, happened, we need to move forward from here because it will take time to evolve and develop into a heart for Ferrybank,” he asserted.

Cllr Pat Dunphy (FG) concluded by speaking on the need to prepare for the significant population growth projected in the area and that more services could not be negative for Kilkenny or Waterford.

“There’s a large factor in the increase that Waterford City would have, I think it’s something like 85,000 people that’s envisioned in the 2040 national plan,” he said. “It is needed, it won’t do any harm. Competition is never bad.”

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