Massive jobs boost as Square plan gets green light

OVER 700 jobs are to be created on the Southside after An Bord Pleanála gave the green light to the $40m expansion of the Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght.

The granting of full planning permission for a major extension to the well known Dub­lin shopping centre follows an original decision by South Dublin County Council in April to let the project go ahead.

Indego, the holding company of the majority ownership at the Square, with the support of NAMA and the Square Management Limited, welcomed An Bord Pleanala’s decision that they say will enhance and modernise the current centre and help it to compete with other large orbital shopping centres around the M50.

The implementation of the e40 million project is expected to create over 300 construction jobs and add 200,000sqft of retail space that will employ 400 new jobs on completion.

A statement issued last week revealed that discussions have already started with a number of interested parties for the anchor and medium space retailer users.

“With planning certainty the strategy and timeline for implementation of this important retail development can be actively advanced,

? the statement reads.

“The centre has been rejuvenated with the ongoing support of NAMA in the past number of years and a new 13-screen cinema has opened together with 25 new brands.

“These initiatives have been delivered under a new management team who have overseen a substan­tial foot­fall increase in the same period.

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Indego CEO Bernard Hamill added:

“This very welcome decision from An Bord Pleanála is a huge boost locally to the Tallaght area.

“It is an immense vote of confidence in the future of the Square as it continues to realise its status as a Towncentre with the potential for hundreds of jobs to be created in the construction phase as well as sustainable long term retail employment.

“The development provides for flexible large retail floor space that is currently lacking and a department store.

“The implementation of this proposal will see the Square Town­centre com­pletely rejuv­enated and it will ensure it becomes again one of the main shopping destinations of choice at the edge of Dublin.”

Cllr John Lahart (FF) urged the developers to prioritise local residents for the new jobs created during construction.

“There are almost 11,000 people signing on the Live Register in Tallaght at the moment and almost 1,200 of these are men under the age of 25,

? he said.

“Many are skilled and well trained people living in the community who would benefit from work on this project.

“I have already written to the Director of Planning to see if there are ways in which the construction companies involved can be strongly encouraged to employ local labour and contractors during the construction phase.

“I am particularly committed to a rejuvenated structured Apprenticeship Programme and this is just one opportunity of many that I hope can give real jobs to Tallaght people and people from the surrounding areas.

?

He added:

“This is a positive development for the local economy in Tallaght and I look forward to seeing the project progress.”