Waterford City and County Council has granted planning permission for the first phase of the North Quays development.

Council CEO Sean McKeown confirmed the news at yesterday’s April plenary meeting of Waterford Council held in Dungarvan.

Revised plans had been submitted subject to the Waterford North Quays Strategic Development Zone Planning Scheme 2018.

The project by Hopcast Limited consists of a mixed use development which will be the first phase of the development of the SDZ lands.

The Phase 1 development includes nine blocks with a total gross floor area of 60,579 sqm.

The development involves construction of a podium which establishes new ground/street formation level which connects to the Sustainable Transport Bridge by Waterford Council at the Central Plaza. Provision is made for pedestrian connection from the Central Plaza to Dock Road via the approved pedestrian bridge.

A new riverside promenade/cycleway (part of Greenway) is proposed between the Sustainable Transport Bridge and the Eastern Access to the site.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting, Mr McKeown confirmed the local authority had issued a “positive decision” in respect of the application that morning with a number of conditions attached.

He outlined the specifics which consists of nine building blocks in the first phase – six of which will be for residential apartments, two for an apartthotel and a four star hotel and conference centre, and the final block is for some commercial office space which Mr McKeown described as “badly needed in the city”.

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