Waterford City & County Council have chosen a preferred developer for the North Quays project.
That's according to local Fianna Fail Councillor, Adam Wyse.
Speaking at the May meeting of the Plenary District of Waterford City & County Council, Cllr. Wyse said that it has always been his opinion that alternatives for funding should have been redirected into existing spaces - if there was no action taken on the North Quays site within a year.
"We're here now in 2022 five years later and we still don't have anybody - obviously it was really disappointing when Fawaz Alhokair and Falcon Real Estate let us down, as far as I'm concerned. That's as far as I think a lot of people in Waterford are concerned. I said then in June 2021 that if we're here in twelve months time - that we need to think about re-investing those funds back into the existing city centre."
Speaking to WLR News, Cllr. Wyse outlined that he has learnt from the local authority's directors that the search for a developer - but there are a number of stumbling blocks that both parties will need to navigate.
"I've had conversations in private with the Executive of Waterford Council. They have confirmed that we are now down to one developer. There were a number of parties interested, but we have chosen one that we want to go with. Obviously, they're waiting now - because there are concerns as to how we'll deliver it. In any walk of life - we're seeing it, it's very hard to get someone in to tile a bathroom, to get a builder to knock a wall. That isn't just at low levels, it's happening at higher levels too."
The Fianna Fail representative believes that plans will become public knowledge by the end of the summer.
"The larger contractors that we are looking to develop this cannot get the sub-contractors. They cannot get the material. They can't get the wood. They can't get the metal. This is something that has been happening all over the world. It's something that we're dealing with. We're in discussions to try and actually bring the North Quays along. I've been given assurances that within the next three months, we will start to see some sort of an announcement as to what will be developed at the North Quays - and an announcement could come in terms of naming a developer."
With supplies at a low level across Europe, Cllr. Wyse says obstacles must be taken into consideration when making projections.
"I don't think there is a timeframe given that nothing is finalised. That will come when a timeframe is agreed with the said developer. I know that last June, the CEO, Michael Walsh had said that September of 2021 was when he hoped the transport bridge and train station elements could get up and moving. Obviously, we must consider the way that the world has been. I don't like using the likes of Covid and Ukraine as excuses but they are realities. It is impossible to get a lot of supplies around the world right now."
