Irish Times 27th March 2002
Atlantic to anchor Galway retail park
Atlantic Homecare is to anchor a new retail park at one of the principal gateways to Galway city. Wellpark Retail is to be developed on a key seven-acre site off the Moneenageesha roundabout on the Dublin road, which has also been earmarked for a high quality leisure complex.
The redevelopment of the former builders providers yard owned by Corbetts, only one kilometre from Eyre Square, probably means that it will be the last major retail park so close to the city centre.
The mixed scheme is being developed by businessman Gerard Barrett, whose company, Edward Holdings, was responsible for the successful Edward Square retail scheme in Galway city centre. The company is also to embark on a major shopping centre in Drogheda later this year (see below).
Atlantic Homecare will be paying a rent of around ?50,000 for two units of a combined 4,181 sq. m. It will also have back-up accommodation at mezzanine level to the rear and an external garden centre.
All the indications are that the park will have a scarcity of lettable retail warehouses because of the high level of interest in it. Two leading traders are in separate negotiations to rent two units each and if these lettings proceed, there will then be only four more units left ranging in size from 697 sq. m. to 1,439 sq. m.
Edmund Douglas of agent Douglas Newman Good is quoting ?69 per sq. m. for these buildings which will have slick front elevations combining frameless glass and elegant panels with integrated signage canopies.
The front block in the park will have an interesting mixture of retail warehousing, convenience stores, restaurant and offices over a basement car-park. There is likely to be plenty of competition for the two-storey convenience stores because of the big local population and the high level of traffic passing the park. The largest retail warehouse of 2,100 sq. m. will have a strong presence off the roundabout, and will have a double height glazed faie. It is likely to be of interest to outlets specialising in furniture, toys, sports goods and electrical appliances. The 1,204 sq. m. of convenience stores are available to rent at ?78 per sq. m.
The office element will be laid out over three floors along the Dublin road frontage. Designed by Gerry Hand of Douglas Wallace architects, there will be 6,200 sq. m. of floor space that can be let to a single tenant or subdivided around a reception core with individual units starting at 600 sq. m. Office rents are likely to be around ?18 per sq. m.
Another phase of the park, about to go before the city planners, will provide almost 6,000 sq. m. of leisure facilities including a seven-screen multiplex cinema, leisure centre and a swimming-pool, skating arena and a Hard Rock style restaurant.
These facilities, which will be a real boom to the city, will be provided in a contemporary three-storey glazed block which will be highly visible from the Dublin road. Surface car parking will include 250 spaces in the centre of the site and further 350 spaces below ground.
Edward Holdings is also developing around 100 homes on an adjoining site which will be completed this year. The retail park is due to open for business in the autumn of 2003.
By Jack Fagan
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.
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.
Atlantic to anchor Galway retail park
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.
