€4m extension to attract major international retailers

Construction work on a €4 million extension at the Kennedy Park entrance to the Eyre Square Shopping Centre – which will provide seven new retail units – is set to begin this month.

The project is a move by the US-based owners of the centre to attract major international retailers.

The plans involve the demolition of the existing Kennedy Park entrance, and the access ‘ramps’ inside, and construction of a new three-storey building between Ballalley Lane and the former Bank of Scotland (Ireland) premises.

The extension will be a 13,000 square foot block including retail units and an outdoor café/restaurant with deck area on a mezzanine level. The work is expected to be completed next Autumn.

Permission for the redevelopment was granted in 2014 while the centre was under the control of receivers.

They told the City Council that the redevelopment is required to “provide a stronger presence for the shopping centre onto Eyre Square that will develop and rebrand the existing entrance building while also contributing in a positive manner to the urban form at this location.

“It will create a modern and more vibrant retail environment by amalgamating existing non-performing retail units.

“It will provide a high-quality environment for pedestrians/customers using the entrance building as a link and to improve vertical circulation in this area.

“It will provide modern format retail space that will improve the tenant mix within the shopping centre, reduce transient or short-term retail occupation and increase customer dwell time,” the planning application read.

In a letter of support for the redevelopment, Douglas Newman Good Commercial estate agents (now Lambert Smith Hampton) wrote: “Even in the current tough trading environment, we are aware of a number of recognised national and international retailers with a requirement for retail units in Galway.

For more on the planned extension, see this week’s Galway City Tribune