Plans have been submitted to redevelop a derelict postal sorting office on Waterford city’s High Street into a food and craft market with space for events.
Sorting Archives Limited has applied for permission to redevelop the long-vacant High Street site into a large indoor market to boost city centre footfall.
Indoor Market with Food Stalls and Dining Area
The proposal includes a large indoor space with a central dining area, surrounded by individual food vendors and artisan stalls. Project documents reference Cork’s Marina Market as a loose inspiration, though the Waterford development would operate on a smaller scale.
Concept designs show a two-storey building with exterior canopies and a walk-through layout linking the different sections of the site.
Mezzanine Level and Walk-Through Design
Elliot Design, the Waterford-based architecture firm behind the plans, said the development would create a walk-through route connecting both buildings.
The design includes accessible stairs and a lift leading to a new mezzanine level overlooking the main dining space, with food pods and seating concentrated at ground-floor level.
Heritage Assessment Supports Proposal
An Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment described the site as part of one of Waterford’s most historically layered areas, linking the Viking Triangle, John Roberts Square, and the Quay.
While the report acknowledged some dereliction nearby, it noted that many surrounding historic buildings have already undergone restoration.
