Council still harbouring grand plans for docks

Galway City Council is continuing to push for the redevelopment of Ceannt Station and the harbour area in the next City Development Plan for 2017-23, which is to be prepared this year.

And the development of the new town of Ardaun on the eastern side of the city remains a key element of the Plan.

Next week, a series of public consultation meetings will take place across the city to discuss some of the issues which will be addressed in the new Plan.

And members of the public have until March 23 to make submissions in writing on Council objectives and policies.

According to an ‘Issues Paper’ prepared by the Council – a synopsis of policy areas to be addressed in the new Plan – the local authority needs to capitalise on the Docks redevelopment and have regard for projected population increases.

“The direction for development as in the previous 2005-2011 Plan sought to focus a significant amount of development onto the east side of the city at Ardaun, to consolidate development in the newer suburbs of Knocknacarra, Castlegar and Doughiska and to capitalise on the brownfield sites at Ceannt Station and the harbour area.

Ardaun has been earmarked for an 870-acre site and will have a projected population of 18,000.

“The Headford Road area (south of the Galway Shopping Centre junction) was also designated a Local Area Plan area with the anticipation of future regeneration.

“Brownfield sites and the Headford Road area will provide for significant employment opportunities as well as residential accommodation.

“In addition, further consolidation of existing business and technology parks within the city and on the edge are considered in the Plan to address economic needs in conjunction with city centre development/expansion.

“The core strategy also gave specific consideration to future retail development and concluded that lands zoned for commercial purposes would be able to accommodate this demand,” it reads.

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune