Unions concerned at €280m plan for Waterford

Waterford Council of Trade Unions has expressed concerns about a planning application for a €280 million development lodged with Waterford City Council that promises to create more than 1,300 jobs.

The development, on a 5.1-acre site bordering Michael Street, New Street, Stephen Street and Brown's Lane in the city, will have 60 shops, including three anchor units, and a 153-bedroom, four-star hotel.

The proposal for the mixed-use development, lodged following a three-month public consultation process up to early December, would also contain a conference centre and leisure facilities.

In addition, arts, cultural and community facilities with underground parking for over 600 vehicles are planned for the development. A spokesman for the KRM Construction Partnership, the team responsible for the development, hoped the facilities would be operational by Christmas 2009.

Tenancy discussions are continuing with a large number of Irish and overseas retailers, many of whom are not currently trading in Waterford.

However, a spokesman for the Waterford Council of Trade Unions yesterday expressed concern regarding the effects on the city and the residents in the inner city area earmarked for the development.

The spokesman was "not entirely convinced" that the jobs estimated would benefit the city. The construction jobs involved would have no lasting benefit to Waterford, while the council was worried regarding the types of retail jobs being created.

"We are also concerned regarding the effect a potential five-storey bunker in the centre of the city - the medieval part of the city - would have on residents," added the spokesman.

In response, a spokesman for KRM said the height varied considerably according to the site slope from Michael Street to Stephen Street and across to Brown's Lane. The site would be extensively excavated so the development would not sit on the existing topography.

The KRM Construction Partnership team includes Trafficwise Ltd and Peter Brett Associates, who have worked on traffic planning for the development.

The spokesman continued: "Comprehensive modelled traffic plans for both the construction and operational phases are a significant element of the planning application.

"The traffic proposals have already been discussed by KRM Construction Partnership with Waterford City Council, while members of the project team have met representatives of the city's taxi drivers and other regular road users."

Up to 650 jobs would be created during the construction phase through to the end of 2009.