A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Shopping centres' footfall down by 1.1%

FOOTFALL in the Republic’s main shopping centres fell by 1.1 per cent in the final three months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009, according to latest figures from global researcher Experian. The findings show that overall footfall trends fell by an average of 1.3 per cent. In Northern Ireland, there was an average decline of 4.7 per cent over the year and a massive drop of 7.2 per cent in the final quarter of 2010. Experian says that inclement weather conditions undoubtedly had an impact on footfall in key shopping districts around the country. Dangerous driving conditions, sub-zero temperatures and treacherous footpaths resulted in shoppers staying at home.

Three tenants sign for Balbriggan shopping centre

THE developers of the Millfield shopping centre in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, due to open for business this Easter, have signed up tenants for three of the four units in the food court.

Graham O’Sullivan is taking the largest unit with a floor area of 261sq m (2,809sq ft) where they will serve a range of fresh meals. BB’s Coffee and Muffins will have a shop of 175sq m (1,884sq ft) while O’Brien’s Sandwich Bar will rent 133sq m (1,432sq ft).

Anchor tenant Tesco is currently fitting out what will be its largest store in Dublin with a floor area of 10,207sq m (109,870sq ft) over two levels. There will also be 30 unit shops over two levels. Savills and Jones Lang LaSalle are letting agents.

Landscaping award for Waterside in Citywest

DAVY Hickey Developments has won an international landscaping award from the British Association of Landscape Industries for its Waterside development at Citywest in Dublin.

The second prize went to the Beijing Urban Planning Design Institute.

The recently completed development at Citywest has four office buildings, two of them curved blocks fronting on to the Naas Road.

A courtyard garden includes a long, slender water feature and fountains influenced by the gardens in the Alhambra Palace in Grenada, Spain.

The garden was designed by Martin Hallinan and the work was undertaken by Grangemore Landscapes.

Jones Lang LaSalle and CBRE are handling lettings in the Waterside buildings which can range from 500-5,250sq m (5,382-56,510sq ft).