Drogheda Independent 19th June 2002
Scotch Hall development gets the go ahead
Drogheda Borough Councillors have given the green light to the ambitious Scotch Hall development on the South Quay – despite an objection from Parolen Limited the developers of the Laurence Street shopping development. After hearing a presentation from senior engineer Eimear O’Callaghan in response to the issues raised by Parolen, councillors voted in favour of the material contravention of the development plan to allow the project to proceed. Councillors also welcomed the news that the developers of the Scotch hall site had also submitted a separate planning application for the building of apartments at the former Irish Oil and Cake Mills site.
Ms O’Callaghan told councillors that one of the issues of objection is that the South Quay is a site which relates poorly to the town and as such is contrary to the proposed Retail Study which identifies St. Laurence’s as the retail site in the town. However, she said that the planning authority considers the proposed development as an opportunity to upgrade the rejuvenate a town centre site.
‘The proposed development would help achieve the regeneration of the docklands area,’ she said. And she emphasised that the development will be subject to the pedestrian bridge being built across the river Boyne. That will be conditioned into the grant of permission. It is considered that the South Quay site can be well integrated into the town centre and the development of north-south linkages.
‘The engineer said that the revised proposal submitted into the planning office opens up Graves Lane. ‘The pedestrian walkway will link with the proposed pedestrian bridge across the Boyne and will create a physical link with the redeveloping dock lands and the traditional town centre,’ she said.
She pointed out that the development would achieve a number of objectives including the reduction of leakage to competitor towns outside Drogheda and outside the County.
‘If an out of town centre is provided in Co Meath on the southern fringes, the development would be significantly more damaging to Drogheda in drawing away business from the town centre. It will benefit the shopping public within the catchment by upgrading the retail choice and enhancing overall shopping environment and will strengthen the links between the north and south side of Drogheda. The Scotch Hall site although not fully in keeping with the Retail Study will meet the wider needs of the expanding area over the longer term. The Dublin Regional Guidelines have detailed that Drogheda can expand to a population of 70,000 to 2020.
‘Alderman Jimmy Mulroy described the proposed development as a ‘great opportunity to eliminate some of the dereliction on the south bank. My aspiration is to see the water front being accessible to the people of the town. It is an excellent commercial, retail and residential development,’ he said.
The development also has the ‘full support’ of Cllr Frank Maher who stated that the ‘south side of the town has been losing out for far too long. The heart was taken out of the south side of Drogheda twenty years ago’.
Deputy Fergus O’Dowd said that in principal he didn’t have difficulty with the development but was anxious that enough recreational space would be provided particularly for the residents who’d be living in the proposed apartments. We’ve had problems where we’ve built concrete jungles and I don’t want that to happen again.
‘He asked that before deciding on the location of the pedestrian bridge the planners should check out plans for the properties on the other side of the river so that this could be taken into consideration.
‘We need to look at the best place to locate the bridge to benefit both sides.
‘He also raised the issue of ‘contaminated land’ which was also included in the Parolen objection and in response to this the engineer that it was an environmental issue and that an environmental impact statement would be prepared and examined before planning permission would be given. While delighted to see ‘one of the eyesores of the town disappear’, Cllr Sean Collins said that he questioned why the council bothers getting studies done at all. ‘On the one hand we are paying to have a retail strategy in place and on the other we are ignoring what it says and I’d be concerned at that.’ said Cllr Collins who abstained when the proposal was put to a vote.
Press Releases Archive
24th November 2005
The interior of the new G hotel in Galway - designed by Philip Treacy - is extraordinarily glamourous.
The Irish Times 16th November 2005
Drogheda became one of the last big towns in Ireland to move into the modern shopping era last Thursday when the stunning new Scotch Hall shopping centre opened, marking the first phase of the rejuvenation of the rundown docklands area. The €200 million complex is one of the finest on the east coast.
Sunday Times Style Magazine 13th November 2005
Someone’s let Philip Treacy loose on a hotel in Ireland. Dominic Bradbury surveys the results.
Sunday Business Post 28th September 2005
The finishing touches are being put to Scotch Hall, Galway developer Gerry Barrett's €150 million retail and leisure development on the south bank of the river Boyne in Drogheda, Co Louth. The scheme, which is expected to draw customers from as far afield as Navan, Newry, Dundalk and Dublin, has been six years in the pipeline and has been under construction for just over two years.
Sunday Tribune 23rd January 2005
A 27-STOREY residential tower, part of a plan to further develop the river side area of Drogheda, could have the similar effect on the town that the Guggenheim museum had on Bilbao, according to architect Gerry Hand of Douglas Wallace.
The Irish Times 10th November 2004
The Galway property developer Gerry Barrett has bought the distinctive Victorian University Hall in Hatch Street, Dublin 2, for over €16 million.
3rd September 2004
Irish-based property company Edward Holdings has launched a new subsidiary hotel brand, Monogram Hotels.
The Sunday Tribune: 14th November 2004
It’s a €100m near sellout as the country’s wealthiest buyers splash out on Gerry Barrett’s D4 development.
The Irish Times: 1st July 2004
The final 17 apartments and coach-houses in what is the most exclusive and expensive scheme in Galway go on the market today.
The Connacht Tribune: 31st January 2003
Two international hotel chains have expressed interest in operating a 129-bedroom hotel in Wellpark which has been given planning approval by city planners.
The Connacht Tribune: 4th October 2002
Plans for a 129-bedroom hotel at Moneenageisha Cross, to replace part of an already approved office development, have been submitted to the City Council.
Scotch Hall development gets the go ahead
Drogheda Independent: 19th June 2002
Drogheda Borough Councillors have given the green light to the ambitious Scotch Hall development on the South Quay - despite an objection from Parolen Limited the developers of the Laurence Street shopping development.
Drogheda Independent: 29th March 2002
The proposed Scotch Hall development planned for Drogheda's south quay will lead to 550 jobs according to the developers.
Irish Times: 27th March 2002
The 200-year-old Bloomfield Hospital and grounds off Morehampton Road in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, is to be redeveloped as one of the city's most exclusive residential enclaves with houses costing up to £2.5 million (€4m) each.
Irish Times: 5th September 2001
Atlantic Homecare is to anchor a new retail park at one of the principal gateways to Galway city.
Drogheda Independent: 30th March 2001
Drogheda's Docklands are to be transformed by an ambitious £50 million redevelopment on the site of the Lakelands grain store.
Galway City Tribune: 12th January 2001
A multi-million pound development which will provide a specialist shopping centre and offices for high-tech companies is being planned for the Wellpark area.
Drogheda Independent: 30th June 2000
The Skyline of Drogheda may be about to change with the possible demolition and removal of the large grey metal silos in the Lakeland Dairies premises on the Marsh Road now that the company is apparently considering relocating to a more rural location.
Galway City Tribune: 14th April 2000
The new £40 million shopping complex, Edward Square, opened its doors on Wednesday morning and enjoyed brisk business all day as thousands thronged the new centre.
Galway City Tribune: 10th September 1999
Top UK retailer 'Next' have been confirmed as tenants of the £26 million Edward Square shopping complex which is hoped to open on schedule at the end of November just in time for the hectic Christmas shopping period.
Galway City Tribune: 26th September 1997
Developers should liase more with residents before lodging their planning applications with the planning authority to avoid delays, it was claimed this week.
Irish Independent: 23rd July 1997
A major new shopping scheme is on the cards for Barrack Lane in Galway City which will see a new department store, ten shops and up to 50 new homes put in place costing £22m.
