Dunnes Stores and NAMA look set to end a 14-year dispute, paving the way for the grocery giant to become the anchor tenant at the long-vacant Ferrybank Shopping Centre.
Sources have told WLR's Damien Tiernan that the retailer is planning to be in place at the site by Christmas of this year.
Ferrybank Shopping Centre was built in 2008 for €100m but has remained empty owing to a long-running dispute between Dunnes Stores and NAMA. The building, which is 30,000 square feet, currently houses Kilkenny Council's municipal offices and the Ferrybank Library.
Earlier this year, a spokesperson for Kilkenny County Council said the dispute was set to be resolved before the end of February, potentially clearing the way for the shopping centre to take on an anchor tenant.
The dispute over the €100m site owned by Deerland Construction now looks set to end - and CEO of Waterford City & County Council, Michael Walsh says the local authority have 'no difficulty' with the news.
"We never had any difficulty with it. There's 5,000 or more people over there, the population is growing and they need services. The inherent proposition of Dunnes going in there is something that we have no difficulty with. Where we would have had a difficulty historically is around the scale of the development, generally - and the initial proposals that were for a greater deal of shopping."
Waterford Council previously objected to aspects of initial proposals - but Mr. Walsh says they have no issue with the plans in their current form.
"Kilkenny have changed the nature of that in terms of their zoning and land use under their development plans - and we're relatively happy with where it sits at the moment. We would see positive uses going into that building in the long term. Our objection was with broader retail that would be competing with the city centre. We have no difficulty with a neighbourhood centre over there."
WLR are currently seeking official confirmation from the parties involved.
