“Utterly impractical” to delay Ceannt development

Date Published: 04-Jan-2008

Plans for the controversial €1billion redevelopment of the ‘Ceannt Station Quarter’ are set to progress, with a planning application set to be lodged in the second half of 2008.

And CIÉ said it would be “utterly impractical” for them to stall their plans until firm proposals are drawn up for the €2bn Docklands redevelopment project.

At the moment, the Planning Appeals Board have to make a ruling on whether the Ceannt Station plans can be treated as a regular planning application, or as ‘Critical Infrastructure’ (designed to speed up the decision-making process for major transport projects).

CIÉ hope that work on the 14.75 acre Eyre Square site could begin next year if given the go-ahead.

As well as a complete overhaul for the bus and train terminals, the plans include two high-rise towers, one of which will be a 16-storey hotel with an observation deck overhead. The ‘Ceannt Quarter’ will also include a massive retail element, offices, almost 600 apartments, pedestrianised zones, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities.

A spokesperson for CIÉ told the Galway City Tribune that work on the design stage is ongoing, and an application is expected to be lodged with Galway City Council “in the second half of this year”.

In the meantime…..