BREAKING: Breakthrough now imminent on vacant Kilkenny shopping centre?

It has been confirmed that the owners of Ferrybank Shopping Centre (Dunnes Stores) are in the process of arranging a pre-planning consultation meeting with Kilkenny County Council.

Acting Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council, Ian Gardner, confirmed the news at the latest meeting of Piltown Muncipal District, held earlier today (Wednesday) in Ferrybank, South Kilkenny.

A pre-planning consultation meeting is a process where prospective applicants can seek advice from Kilkenny County Council regarding a proposed development before submitting a formal planning application. 

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This allows the applicant to discuss their plans with a local area planner, potentially saving time and effort by addressing potential issues early on. 

This is significant in relation to Ferrybank Shopping Centre because it most likely means that there is a planning application imminent for the centre on behalf of Dunnes Stores.

Mr Gardner stated that the pre-planning consultation meeting will likely take place either later this week, or next week, and described it as 'a very positive step forward'.

The update was also met with positivity from the elected members of the district.

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Ferrybank Shopping Centre is a vast complex on the Kilkenny-Waterford border that has been mostly empty since its completion in 2008.

For over a decade, the site was the centre of a legal dispute between Dunnes Stores, who were originally signed on as the anchor tenant, and Deerland Construction Ltd, a company that transferred the loans for the building to NAMA.

Back in March of 2023, it was revealed that Dunnes Stores purchased and now have ownership of the centre. 

Since that purchase, a large amount of remedial work has been conducted, prompting anticipation of an inevitable opening.

Last year, Dunnes Stores agreed to meet with the planning department of Kilkenny County Council ahead of the final drafting of the Ferybank/Belview Local Area Plan.

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