The transformation of the city’s Carrickphierish area into Waterford’s newest urban centre is continuing with gusto with planning permission approved for a new mixed use retail/ residential centre at Bawndaw and a decision imminent on a massive scheme in the area incorporating residential, commercial, medical, leisure and recreational uses.

Almost ten years ago, a City Council-commissioned report identified Carrickphierish, in the city’s north western suburbs, as a potential area to accommodate massive residential development necessitated by the growing population.

The ‘Carrickphierish Neighbourhood Centre Design Framework’ forms part of the current Development Plan and envisages two neighbourhoods, with a Neighbourhood Centre on the new Carrickphierish radial road (linking the Knockhouse and Cleaboy roads) forming a focal point for numerous large-scale housing schemes in the area.

An Bord Pleanala recently granted William Neville and Sons permission for the Bawndaw development to be constructed within Neighbourhood One and include 129 apartments, a supermarket anchor tenant, pub and restaurant, a medical centre, leisure centre and two additional public roads. Varying from one storey to five storeys, this scheme will be constructed over four levels, centred around the new Neighbourhood’s High Street. The pub/ restaurant will be located at one end of the High Street and the leisure centre on the other.

The ground floor of the scheme will comprise a public house, along with a food anchor store (net retail area 1,606 m2) and ten shops, a pharmacy, leisure centre, a landscaped public plaza and car parking. Additional car parking and offices, along with the 129 apartments will be spread over the upper levels, with 11 units in three blocks planned for Level 1, 46 apartments in 9 blocks for Level 2, 47 apartments in 9 blocks for Level 3 and 25 apartments in 8 blocks for Level 4. Two additional public roads will be provided to the west and to the north of the site.

The application was approved subject to a number of conditions, including the provision of a crèche facility to cater for the development. The developer was also instructed to pay Waterford City Council €887,001.20 in respect of the provision of a comprehensive Urban Design specification for the Neighbourhood Centre’s High Street. A third party appeal had been made by

Parker Green International, the Newry-based developer recently approved planning permission for a major retail warehousing, hotel, cinema, conference and enterprise centre on the Cork Road. Another appeal by local developer David Flynn was later withdrawn.

Meanwhile the City Council will soon decide whether to grant planning permission to Leebury Developments Ltd for a mixed-use development at Carrickphierish Road, Bawndaw and Ballynamona, which will include 106 residential units, an anchor convenience unit (gross floor area 1,912 sqm), several retail units, a coffee shop, post office, bank and credit union, medical centre, leisure centre with swimming pool and gym, 7-screen cinema, bar and restaurant, bookmakers, off-licence, takeaway and many offices , set over 5 blocks, along with a public park, civic areas and a playground. The developments being proposed by Leebury will provide the nucleus of the new neighbourhood centre.