An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for the first phase of a €150-million-plus commercial and retail centre in Knocknacarra which is set to be Galway's biggest-ever development.
The 52-acre development will create an area known as Knocknacarra Town Centre off the western distributor road.
Planning has now been granted to developers Michael and Bridie Whelan and John Barrett of Dublin-based Rumbold Builders for the 11-acre phase-one development beside Hibernian Insurance on Bóthar Stiofáin.
The plan is that the overall site will include offices, a retail park, fitness centre, apartments, hotel, pub, medical centre, multiplex cinema, community centre and civic square by 2011.
Under the first phase of the plan for the Galway West Business Park, which could be completed by the beginning of 2007, a 7,124sq m supermarket will be built along with a 4,950sq m DIY and hardware retail warehouse with a garden centre.
The first phase also includes four retail units for electrical, furniture and convenience goods. There will also be a health and fitness centre, restaurant and parking for 650 cars.
Galway City Council's decision to give the green light to the development in January was appealed by Rgdata, the Retail, Grocery, Dairy and Allied Trades' Association.
It argued that the development would undermine the need to provide convenience floorspace in the new town of Ardaun at Doughiska on the east side of the city.
