Commission to be Established to Review Waterford City/South Kilkenny Boundary & New Plans for North Quays Redevelopment – Minister Coffey

Minister of State Paudie Coffey TD has announced a Boundary Commission will be established to review the current Boundary of the Waterford City/South Kilkenny Border. Minister Coffey said the Commission would look at the boundary from a planning and development perspective and would look to ensure historic and cultural ties were respected in any recommendations that are to be made. Minister Coffey also said there are exciting new plans for the re-development of the North Quays that will transform Waterford City and ensure its place as the main urban centre in the South East Region.

“The Boundary Commission that I have worked to establish will have 3 members on it and will take full account of current demographic and relevant spatial and socio-economic factors. It will take account of the need for effective and efficient local government but the Commission will have regard to the identity and cohesion of local communities. I expect that the Commission will report back with its recommendations no later than the end of November 2015.

“I believe that the decision to establish the review of the boundary is the interests of good planning and sustainable development for Waterford City and its environs. I would encourage proactive engagement of all stakeholder sin the process and I look forward to the Commission’s report later this year and to considering its recommendations.

“The North Quays in Waterford City are a strategic site in the South East Region and may be impacted by the Boundary Commission’s report. Over the last number of months I have been working closely with various stakeholders to develop a plan that will transform the North Quays. Contracts have now been signed for the demolition of the old Flour Mills and that process will take between 10-12 weeks.

The exciting new plans would see the extension of the railway line into the North Quays site, along with the construction of a new Train Station; and the construction of a new 250m pedestrian bridge from the Clock Tower to the North Quays; the bridge will also be engineered so that it can continue to allow boats to sail up the river. This element of the plans will bring connectivity across the River Suir directly to the heart of Waterford’s business and Retail Sector. Improvement works to the Wharf and the quay-side, are also proposed to protect the site from the risk of potential flooding.

“The refurbishment of the protected Hennebique building and the construction of the two new state of the art office blocks can bring modern facilities to the heart of our city and quayside. A multi-story car park and public realm works to make the entire quay more attractive and accessible are also involved in this plan. This can create a huge amount of office capacity for the City and help to attract more IDA investments which will boost economic activity in the City.

“I have been working with my Ministerial colleagues Brendan Howlin TD, Alan Kelly TD and Michael Noonan TD, to deliver this significant project for the City and with Local Authority Management and Officials. I have made it clear I want to see this project included in the government’s new Capital Investment Plan along with others that will be announced in the coming weeks. This plan can be the game-changer that Waterford City needs to attract large scale FDI and is in keeping with the Government’s strategy for Urban Regeneration to turning a brownfield site that was problematic for many years into beneficial use for the local and Regional economy, delivering jobs and new services for the region.

“This proposal has real potential to create long term sustainable employment, facilitate the redevelopment of Waterford City on the North side of the River Suir and improve accessibility to the heart of the City, by Car, Train or on foot.

“It is now time for Waterford to deliver on its full potential and I am committed to seeing this happen. Together these proposals will allow us to compete with other regions and cities; both at home and abroad and can benefit the wider region in so many ways.”

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