NAMA 'are not willing' to reveal identity of Kilkenny shopping centre owner
Councillors in South Kilkenny have been told that NAMA are 'contractually not willing' to reveal the identity of the owner of Ferrybank Shopping Centre.
NAMA's position was explained to councillors at this month's meeting of Piltown Municipal District Council by Kilkenny County Council's Denis Malone.
Councillors previously wrote to NAMA in a bid to get full clarity on the identity of the purchaser, widely speculated to be Dunnes Stores.
Cllr Ger Frisby stated that 'it's disappointing that NAMA wont engage with the local authority for a centre this size'.
"Rumours are circulating everywhere and it's important to get official confirmation for everyone's sake," he said.
Cllr Fidelis Doherty agreed, stating, 'they’re going to have to engage at some stage'.
Cllr Pat Dunphy stated that if the delay in confirming the identity of the owner continues, there is a risk that 'people will lose confidence in the whole system'.
The councillors then agreed unanimously to write directly to the company heavily speculated to be the owners, given that NAMA is seemingly not willing to provide information on the sale of centre.
Ferrybank Shopping Centre, which is 30,000 square feet, was built in 2008 and currently houses Kilkenny County Council's municipal offices and the Ferrybank Library.
For over a decade, the site has been the centre of a legal dispute between Dunnes Stores, who were originally signed on as the anchor tenant, and Deerland Construction Ltd, a company that transferred the loans for the building to NAMA.
The massive 30,000m2 outlet has remained vacant for the entirety of that dispute, and this has been an ongoing source of irritation for local councillors, residents and the local authorities of both Kilkenny and Waterford.
It has also been rumoured that a 2023 reopening is planned, although this has not been confirmed.