Knock Airport unveiled plans yesterday for a £50 million (€63.5 million) business park that could create up to 2,000 jobs.
Those backing the project include Corporate Finance Ireland and Andersen consultants. Many of those involved were also responsible for the development of the East Point business park in Dublin.
The board of Knock Airport has contracted Andersen to help raise funding for the project and to market the business park to foreign clients. Telecom company nevada tele.com has agreed to rent space in the park.
Architects, Scott Tallon Walker, who designed East Point in Dublin, has been appointed and the property company Cleary McCabe and Associates will oversee the development of the park.
Initially, 330,000 square feet of office space will be built. A timescale for completion of between three and five years has been set.
The chairman of the board of Knock International Airport, Mr Cathal Duffy, said agreement had been reached with the development team "to plan finance and build a modern office park" and that the project had received a "jump-start" with the commitment given by nevada tele.com to provide essential telecom services. Mr Duffy said it was always intended that the airport would help attract investment and act as "a solid base for sustainable employment". The airport had been growing steadily, Mr Duffy said. Passenger numbers this year were expected to reach 230,000 and this could double by the end of the decade. The co-ordinator of the development group, Mr Terry Browne, said the key to the project was the airport runway, which he described as a "unique piece of connectivity to the outside world".
When asked if he believed 2,000 jobs could be created within five years, Mr Browne said the short answer was yes, but that they also had to "live in the real world" where the reality was that companies would make their own choices about where to locate. "It was our collective feeling that 2,000 [jobs] was the target to shoot for. We felt it was realistic and achievable." Speakers yesterday emphasised that Knock's location in the Objective One area would guarantee a higher level of supports and incentives for investors.
Mr Michael Semple of Corporate Finance Ireland said he believed the project could be successful and reach targets but that the extension of capital tax allowances, which expired at Knock in 1999, would be very important.
The Minister of State, Mr Tom Moffatt, unveiled the plans saying he believed it would result in "substantial development not just at the airport but for the whole region".
