A submission of a planning application for a significant expansion of one Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in West Dublin has been announced today by asset and development managers, Hines Ireland.
The application, proposes the building of an Olympic standard ice arena with capacity for 2,500 spectators, capable of hosting international ice skating competitions, ice hockey matches and ice entertainment performances.
The plan proposes 1,800 additional car parking spaces and a transformation of the Centre’s civic spaces with the addition of a major new public space equivalent to a typical European-scale Urban Plaza.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Development Director of Hines Ireland, Kevin Ryan said, "The new public space will provide an additional mixed leisure entertainment, commercial and retail extension creating an active public environment, which fully resonates with the local community.
"This, combined with €28 million invested in the complex over the past 18 months, means we are building on a successful retail mix and customer experience and establishing Liffey Valley as one of Ireland’s leading shopping and leisure destinations."
This comes after detailed studies commissioned by Hines into the existing market predict spending and population growth in Liffey Valley’s catchment will outstrip growth in supply over the next 5 years, demonstrating the need for new retail space in West Dublin in the coming years.
The project once initiated has the potential to create up to 450 construction employment opportunities during development approximately 1,500 full and part-time jobs upon completion, bringing the total number of people employed within the centre to over 3,700.
Senior Managing Director of Hines Ireland, Brian Moran today commented, "This is a significant yet timely planning proposal for Liffey Valley, underpinned by evidence of emerging demand for this scale of expansion in the future.
"We are submitting the application now as a strategic forward planning initiative aimed at the sustainable development of Liffey Valley in line with future market needs."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
