CIE plan to redevelop Galway rail station will be major boost to city's growth

One of Galway city's last available areas for commercial development is to be the subject of a multimillion pound plan commissioned by CIE, which may involve a public-private partnership.

The plans for developing Ceannt Station and the 15 acres to the south of it will be unveiled before the end of the year, according to CIE chairman, Mr John Lynch, who recently met a delegation of public and business interests in the city. He cited a six-month timescale for the integrated plan to build an integrated rail and bus depot, linked with modern inter-changes, and an adjoining shopping mall.

A private commercial development may be earmarked for one section of the prestigious site, which extends to Forthill cemetery, Lough Atalia and the docks area and which borders on the new Radisson SAS and Galway Harbour hotels. It is also expected that the plan will include covered arrival and departure areas for buses, the possible transfer of the bus maintenance depot to a new site, and provision of adequate parking for commuters using the train and bus services.

Ceannt Station has only had one major reconstruction since it was built in 1851, and Mr Myles McHugh, Iarnrod Eireann's business development manager in Galway, predicts an exciting time for the company. Bus Eireann is examining provision of an hourly bus service on the Galway/Dublin and Galway/Limerick/Cork routes to meet the rapid growth in demand. Revenues from the city bus fleet are also up by 13 per cent for the first four months of this year, and the entire fleet has been replaced recently with new low floor wheelchair accessible vehicles, and eight additional buses, at a total cost of £2.1 million (€2.67m).

There has been very keen interest in the future of the CIE property among developers in the city, and there was speculation that it had been earmarked for a major shopping and commercial development which might include a retail multinational like Marks & Spencer as its anchor tenant.

The CIE chairman made it clear in his recent dialogue that public transport services would be the priority, and it is expected that Galway Corporation and Galway County Council will have a significant involvement in drawing up the plan.

Meanwhile, several new commercial developments in the city suburbs are close to completion, including the Galway Technology Centre which has been redeveloped by Galway Chamber of Commerce in association with Westbic, and is due to be opened formally by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, next month. Enterprise Ireland supported the capital cost of the £4 million (€5.08m) redevelopment of the technology centre at Mervue Business Park, which was first opened in February, 1994 after the closure of Digital.

The Chamber of Commerce bought an adjoining site last year and built a new 50,000 sq ft building to replace two converted individual units of 12,500 sq ft. Westbic will manage the new premises, which will have on-line access, air conditioning and a serviced reception area and meeting facilities.

Mr Jarlath Feeney, chief executive of the Galway Chamber, said that the small and large self-contained units are ideal for start-up businesses, and research units. Emphasis on light in the design makes for a very creative working environment, he says. Rates are "very competitive" at £9 to £12 (€11.43-€15.24) per sq ft, depending on location and size, and some 70 per cent of the building has already been taken, he reports.

Out on the Tuam road, Cunningham Auctioneers is joint agent with Rooneys for Connaught House, a new development designed by Douglas Wallace for Liam O Coinne. The three-storey above ground floor offices in two blocks is intended to meet a shortage of good quality office space in Galway.

Connaught House is internally fitted with suspended ceilings, raised access floors and finished open plan office floors. The raised access floors and suspended ceilings are optional for clients, and can be omitted from the contract if tenants so wish. The cost is about £13.50 (€17.14) a sq ft, and the equivalent in Dublin would cost about £30 (€38.09) a sq ft, the developers say. It will be ready for occupation in October.