Ballymun shopping complex boost

A NEW

?¬1.8 million shopping complex in Ballymun that’s been given green light from local councillors could be the spark that ignites new development to finally fully realise the area’s regeneration dream.

Plans for a large grocery store, two smaller retail units, a café and an office next to the old shopping centre is expected to be ratified at a full council vote next month.

The Balcurris Park development is much smaller than previous plans put forward during the Celtic Tiger era but it’s hoped it can be the start of new investment into the area.

The decline of the old Ballymun Shopping centre, now set for demolition, is a major blight on the Ballymun Regeneration project.

In 2009, permission was granted for Spring Cross, an

?¬800 million town centre with over 100,000 sq mts of shopping space, offices and leisure facilities, including an 11-screen cinema, a bowling alley, a family entertainment centre and a child drop-in centre.

However, the economic crash put a stop to Spring Cross, leaving a gaping hole in the regeneration project and the area desperately short of facilities.

It had been hoped the economic recovery would attract new investment into the area but with offers short on the ground councillors were happy to back the relatively small plan put forward last week.

Fianna Fáil’s councillor Paul McAuliffe welcomed the proposal, describing it as the first significant private investment in Ballymun for years.

“This investment will bring much needed shopping facilities to Ballymun,

? he said.

“The area is already serviced by a good quality supermarket run by SuperValu but at the moment there is little choice for locals.

“This is not the old style speculative development that’s likely to lie empty for many months.

“I will be seeking assurances that tenants are in place before this deal goes ahead. Ballymun needs more shops in the area, not more empty buildings.

“

Cllr McAuliffe is also calling for the plans to be amended to include residential units.

“It’s disappointing that such a central site with great transport links that allows up to six storeys does not have any housing element to it,

? he continued.

“I will be proposing that the plans are amended to include residential units.

?

Plans for the development were also welcomed by Cllr Noel Rock (FG) who wants an assurance that locals get their fair share of the 80 plus jobs expected to be created from the project.

“This is a good deal for Ballymun and has been a long time coming,

? he stated.

“The

?¬1.8 million offer on the site is the first large private investment in Ballymun for years.

“My understanding is that tenants are lined up for this development, and that it isn’t simply speculative like so many other private developments in the past.

?

Cllr Noeleen Reilly (SF) also expressed her delight at the vote in favour of the disposal of the site for retail purposes.

“This has been a long time coming and although not what was originally promised to residents, it is a stepping stone to greater shopping facilities in the area,

? she said.

“I was hoping we would be in a position to know what shops are coming into the area but it looks like we will have to wait until further down the line.

?

Cllr Reilly has asked the council to look at reinvesting the

?¬1.8 million from the sale into the area for future commercial development.