Student residence developers set to drive forward Dyke Road project

Developers of student accommodation are set to drive forward the construction of a new concert hall, library headquarters and multi-storey carpark on the Dyke Road.

The Galway City Tribune understands that bed spaces for hundreds of students could be provided on the site – which would be linked to the NUI Galway campus by a pedestrian and cycle bridge running on the piers of the old Galway-Clifden railway line.

The City Council will be looking to the private sector to ‘partner’ in the development of new civic spaces on the site of the Black Box, which is to be demolished, and the adjacent carpark.

Already, national and international developers who provide student accommodation are believed to have shown an interest in the site.

A Council spokesperson said the local authority is getting ready to prepare a scoping document for the site – to gauge interest and invite proposals from the private sector.

He added that that project is expected to act as a catalyst for further redevelopment in the wider area – a major urban regeneration plan for the Headford Road area has been earmarked as part of the ‘core strategy’ of the new City Development Plan.

The Development Plan states that a residential element must make up at least 30% of the overall regeneration, with the remainder open to retail, office and civic uses.

The plan also identifies the opportunity for a new ‘research and development’ hub in the area which would also be linked by the new pedestrian bridge.
For the rest of this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.