Cummins
Two months on from Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe visiting the North Quays development site, it can be revealed that Harcourt Developments, one of Ireland’s largest privately owned property companies is to submit their ambitious €225 million phase one plan to transform Waterford city’s seven-hectare North Quays site in the next two weeks.
The plans will consist of a waterfront promenade, a 160 bed hotel and conference centre, 350 apartments, a 165 bed aparthotel, ground floor retail/food/beverage offer and a 70,000 sq/ft grade A office building. Commenting on the plans Senator Cummins said “I understand these plans are to be submitted in the next two weeks by Harcourt Developments; the site notice and newspaper notice will be in next week and due to the SDZ designation status of the North Quays site, I would expect the green light to be given to the plans within a relatively short period of time because there is no leave to appeal.
“This is a really exciting time for Waterford and the South East. I can feel the momentum building within the city and county and it is great to see the work that is already underway on this transformative project which I have always believed passionately in”.
He added “I want to compliment the teams at Harcourt Developments and Douglas Walace Consultants for designing a modern and functional mixed-use development for the central part of this prime waterfront site. This landbank is one of the best sites in Ireland and will enable our city to expand and develop a modern quarter. It is important to stress that this is just phase one and there is huge potential on the east and west ends of the site for further development given the huge investment in enabling infrastructure by the state. I understand a large tourism related project is already being evaluated for the next phase”.
On 6th March 2023, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar broke ground on the enabling infrastructure contract which is being facilitated by €170.6 million in government funding. Huge progress has been made in the last thirteen months on a new sustainable transport bridge which will link the north and south quays, new road interchanges and bridges on to the site, rock stabilisation works and the construction of a new state of the art transportation hub which will house a new train station.
Commenting following a visit to the site on the 29th February with his Fine Gael party colleague Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe, Senator Cummins said “It was fantastic to walk through the vast North Quays site with Minister Donohoe and the teams from BAM, Roughan & O’Donovan, Waterford City and County Council and Harcourt Developments. This is a project which I have always believed passionately in. While many said it would never happen, I was determined to ensure its delivery and it’s wonderful to see the site transforming before our very eyes due to €170 million in government investment.
“When I walked the site with Minister Donohoe in 2019, it looked very different. We can now see the Transportation hub emerging, new rail lines and platforms being laid and new bridges and road interchanges on to the site being constructed”.
“The exciting plans by Harcourt Developments will deliver much needed tourism accommodation and conferencing facilities, high grade city centre offices and a liveable core with associated facilities such as a creche, cafes and restaurants. To see the phase one plans which are estimated to cost €225 million finally being unveiled is another important and exciting milestone”.