LATEST: Major update on €200 million North Quays project on Kilkenny and Waterford border

Development under section 179 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and Notice pursuant to the requirements of Part 8, Article 81 & Article 120(3) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 as amended.

Notice is hereby given that Waterford City and County Council propose to carry out the following development at
the new transport hub located along the northern boundary of the North Quays SDZ in Ferrybank, Waterford.

In accordance with Part 8, Article 81 of the above Regulations, Waterford City & County Council hereby gives notice of proposals to carry out the works associated with the development noted below for a southern entrance/ access to the new transport hub contiguous to the south façade of the new train station currently being constructed in accordance with planning ref. P8 04/19, located on the northern boundary of the North Quays SDZ site in the townland of Abbeylands, Ferrybank, Waterford. 

The proposed development is a new southern entrance / access to the transport hub and primarily consists of the following elements:

• Curved external entrance steps with handrails and balustrades.
• Passenger lift and enclosure in accordance with Part M of Building Regulations.
• A new external pedestrian access door from the southern platform area.
• Terraced planters, with low-level planting.
• Control gates with roller shutter systems to provide control points on the public concourse area at the top of both the northern and southern external entrance steps.
• External blockwork/treatment to southern façade wall to reflect its new function as an external wall.
• External paving at ground level to the front of the entrance.
• Extended roof canopy structure to cover the passenger lift and upper flight of external steps and to match surface and soffit finishes of adjacent roof currently under construction as part of main station building.

Plans and particulars of the proposed development will be available for inspection or purchase, at a reasonable fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at Waterford City & County Council, Customer Care Desk, Baileys New Street, Waterford between the hours of 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday for the period 21st January 2025 to 18th February 2025 inclusive (excluding Bank and Public Holidays).

The proposed development has undergone Appropriate Assessment Screening under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, and the Planning Authority has determined that a Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment is not required in this instance.

In addition, the proposal has also undergone screening for Environmental Impact Assessment under the EIA Directive 2014/52/EU (and the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act, as amended), and the Planning Authority has determined that there will be no likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development and, therefore, an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required.

In accordance with Article 120 (3) of the Planning & Development Regulations (as amended), any person may, within 4 weeks from the date of this notice, apply to An Bord Pleanála for a screening determination as to whether the proposed development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment.

Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area shall be made:

• In writing to the Director of Economic Development, Waterford City & County Council, No. 35 The Mall, Waterford (Submissions should be clearly marked "Southern Entrance to Transport Hub")
• By email to projectsteam@waterfordcouncil.ie
• Online, here on this page (right hand side), labelled "Make A Submission".

All submissions are to be received on or before 4pm on March 3.

All comments, including names of those making comments, submitted to the Council in regard of this scheme will form part of the statutorily required report to be presented at a meeting of the elected members.

Accordingly, they will also be included in the minutes of that meeting and may appear in the public domain. Waterford City & County Council is subject to the provision of Freedom of Information (FOI Acts 1997 and 2014) and the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2013.