Multi-million retail project for derelict site by 2019

The owners of a derelict site on the Headford Road have said they hope to complete a multi-million euro retail, office and apartment development by 2019.

The Council had previously raised concerns over potential flooding on the half-acre site.

Almane Properties Ltd – which is controlled by the Barry family, who own Motorpark and have numerous property investments – has been granted a five-year extension of time on its planning permission for the site located alongside the IMC Cinema at Galway Retail Park.

The plans are for a new 2,355 square metre development on the site, including 840 sq m of ground floor retail space, 810 sq m of first floor offices and 4 two-bed duplex apartments (totalling 706 sq m) on the second and third floors, as well as 14 temporary parking spaces.

“Around the time permission was granted, the market for this type of accommodation collapsed and finance was no longer available for construction,” the application reads.

Planning permissions last for a period of five years, and the Almane permission had been due to expire in May. It will not expire in May, 2021.

City Council planners said: “Development of this vacant site is desirable in the interests of improving the visual amenity and general ambience of this stretch of the Headford Road. The site is prominently located, both visually and in terms of commercial footfall.

“The further provision of retail space in this area would be beneficial in physically linking the city centre with the shopping areas on the Headford Road (Galway Shopping Centre and Galway Retail Park), and the mixed retail/office use and substantial residential element is in keeping with the Commercial/Industrial zoning objectives.”

Planners had also requested that a flood risk assessment be prepared for the site.

That report found that the site would be defended by the Terryland embankment and Salmon Weir against a 100 year flood, but is “potentially vulnerable” to the 1,000 year flood.

It said that while the ground floor retail units could be affected, the residential apartment are located at second and third floor level are safe from flooding as the flood defences would only allow flooding between 4cm and 7cm on the ground floor, which would not impede access.

Senior Executive Planner Liam Blake said: “Having regard to the fact that the overall Headford Road development is not a greenfield site, but adjoins an existing shopping centre which has been in place for over 40 years and the fact that all residential accommodation units of the proposed development are located above the ground floor level, and that clear evacuation refuge and escape routes have been identified, it is considered that the flood risks have been adequately assessed.”

He added that despite the volatility of the property market, the Council would extend the planning permission by five years because it was in the context of a mixed-use development. Mr Blake said the extension of time for residential-only would normally be three years.

The applicants indicated they expect the building to be completed “between 2017-19”.

Last year, planners granted permission to another company for the development of two retail units and four apartment on the adjoining carpark site (the former Esso station).