A Bord Pleanála hearing into the decision of Kilkenny Borough Council to grant planning permission for a €100 million development at Kilkenny railway station opened yesterday.
Objectors to the proposed shopping centre, hotel, apartment blocks and car park on the nine-acre site claim it is unsuitable because of its scale and because it is separated from the rest of the city by the rail line.
The developers, Chesterbridge Ltd, who are partners in the railway station site with Kilkenny County Council, said in a submission yesterday that they believed the McDonagh Station regeneration project would stimulate the economic, social, cultural and environmental development of Kilkenny city.
It would create "a new and dynamic urban quarter in close proximity to the centre of the city", the project's architect, Mr Tony Reddy, said.
He said the project aims to give a new lease of life to a number of existing heritage buildings, such as the Old Kilkenny Work House.
Mr Reddy said it would also incorporate the creation of a number of new structures to provide a mixed-use development of between 12,000 to 14,000 square metres of shopping facilities, with appropriate car parking, and a hotel, restaurants, bars, offices, residential accommodation, as well as community and cultural uses.
He said the development would allow for the regeneration of derelict lands, and result in the creation of a new urban quarter for Kilkenny close to the centre.
"The integration of existing historic buildings into the new scheme will harness the intrinsic site assets to crate a sustainable development and a series of new urban spaces and streets for Kilkenny.
"This resulting contrast between new and restored buildings will create a place of distinction by drawing inspiration from Kilkenny's indigenous character to strengthen its local identity," he said.
Mr Reddy said the project, which has received permission from Kilkenny Borough Council, provides a vision for the site that attempts to focus the aspirations of the developer, local authority and local community in a manner which embodies a strategy for Kilkenny's future.
Among the objectors are the Kilkenny Co-operative Livestock Market Ltd (Kilkenny Mart), which wants to develop a shopping centre, leisure complex and residential units and other facilities at Barrack Street, Kilkenny, which is about 700 yards away from the station.
Other objectors present at the hearing in the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny include the High Street Traders' Group.
The hearing continues today, and is expected to conclude tomorrow.