After almost three years, Limerick City Council's ambition to build the biggest retail outlet in the Mid West will become a reality as the multi-million euro Opera Centre development has been given the go-ahead, with the project set to create more than 1,000 jobs in the area.
LastThursday afternoon, permission for the 38,500 square metre facility was officially granted.
Mayor John Gilligan said developers Regeneration Development's decision to build in the city represents a "vote of confidence".
The 350million euro, Opera Centre will have Marks and Spencer as just one of a number of high profile anchor tenants.
"I'm delighted, particularly with the news so many jobs will be created, jobs which will be high quality and sustainable in the long term,"said the Mayor, who also vowed his authority would do everything it could to facilitate sitting tenants on the site.
The Opera Centre planning process has not been without its setbacks, the most recent of which came from the owners of the Trinity Rooms nightclub on Michael Street, which will seek compensation from city council if it goes ahead with a compulsory purchase order to acquire a piece of land on Bank Place, which the nightclub managing director, Pat Barry claims is "critical to the operation of the Trinity Rooms."
Mr Barry has criticised the city planner, Dick Tobin's recent comment that the council "must weigh carefully the opportunity of around 1,000 jobs with the temporary displacement of the 100 people employed in Trinity Rooms.
Opera Centre |
Mr Barry claims that if the piece of land in question is acquired by CPO, the nightclub could be forced out of business.
A Bord Pleanala ruling on the issue is expected later this month.
Construction of the Opera Centre is estimated to take three years, during which it will employ over 300 building workers.
It is expected that this will be followed by developer, Michael Tiernan's ambitious plan to redevelop Sarsfield Street, the riverside area currently occupiewd by the now closed Dunnes Stores and that part of O'Connell Street running from Debenhams to Burger King.
It is also anticipated that this redevelopment will include the demolition of Sarsfield Street and regeneration of Nicholas Street.
