Ballina to be shopper’s heaven

Ballina set to become shopper’s heaven

> Big name outlets will allow Ballina to reclaim its crown as retail capital of Mayo
> 300 jobs in construction over three years
> 700 jobs in retail sector

Anna-Marie Flynn

OVER 1,000 jobs will be created with the planned €80 million shopping complex in Ballina. The planned multi-tenant development, which will be the largest of its kind in the county, came one step closer last week when Ballina Town Council voted in favour of disposing of its lands at Humbert Street to facilitate the centre.
The 0.75 hectare – 1.86 acre – site in the town centre will now be disposed to Harold Conway, Peter Conway and Martin Garvin for €9,150,000.
Senior Executive Officer Paul Benson informed the monthly meeting of the urban authority last Thursday. “After extensive negotiations, we are satisfied that the best price has been achieved for a site of this size in the town centre. This is one of the most comprehensive developments ever in the history of Ballina.”
Mr Benson said plans were in motion in 2001 and subsequently fell through but, seven years on, the town now had a real chance to rival retail centres across the country.
“It is hoped that there will be one anchor store of a minimum size of 6,000 square metres and a second anchor of 1,000 square metres. There will be a number of other tenants with not more than three units less than 100 square metres. The majority of shops will be 200 to 300 square metres which is a niche market in the sense that there are not many of those size in town at the moment. The plans also include a total of 650 car parking spaces.”
Mr Benson agreed that finances lay at the heart of the issue. “The most critical aspect of all is evidence of financial backing and the Town Council had to be assured that the developers have satisfactory monies.”
He told elected councillors that the developers have already submitted a booking deposit of €100,000 as a gesture of goodwill but this did not indicate any commitment to the deal. Along with the deposit, five per cent will be paid on securing planning permission and the remaining 85 per cent on the conveyance of land.
Planning permission must be applied for within six months and completion of same within a timeframe of 18 months.
He said that should the plan go ahead any failure to complete the development within the specified timeframe would result in a forfeit of €15,000.
Further developments of the site could see it greatly enhanced should it be amalgamated with Tuffy’s, a three-four acre area, and eventually integrate the existing Dunnes Stores development.

Voices in the Chamber
What the Councillors think

Mayor Padraig Moore
“This is fantastic for the town of Ballina, which already boasts shops like McGuire’s shoes, famed for holding the agency that supplies fashion stars across the world. We have very good quality shops in Ballina and this will add to that.”

Cllr Johnnie O’Malley
“We are constantly competing with Castlebar, Sligo and Galway. The likes of Penney’s, Heaton’s and the new Shaws store have already increased the value of Ballina as a shopping location and we have to grasp this and grasp it because it is the way forward.”

Cllr Willie Nolan
“This will not only give the town a shopping status but it will have a knock-on effect for Bed and Breakfasts, shops and other businesses in the area. The only thing I would ask is that the officials would endeavor to spend some of the money accrued on car parking throughout the town.”

Cllr Mark Winters
“I know of the quality of the developers and the quality of the tenants they are trying to attract. These are retailers that are not normally found in Mayo which means we will have a very big attraction here in Ballina.”

Cllr Peter Clarke
“This will be a shopping centre like no other in Mayo. The business community is 100 per cent behind it and it is an exciting time for Ballina.”

Cllr Frances McAndrew
“I thank the officials for having the foresight and the interest in the town. People need choice and if they don’t have choice they look elsewhere.”

Cllr Michelle Mulherin
“We will now have the golden triangle of Pearse Street with its stores, Garden Street with Shaws and this massive development at Humbert Street. This will now allow us to reclaim our retail capital crown and let us, quite literally, shop until we drop.”

Cllr Tommy Cooke
“Within just four or five years Ballina will be home to a shopping centre that is second to none and renowned throughout the country.”

Westlife singer to develop former Ballina bakery

Anna-Marie Flynn

WESTLIFE singer Shane Filan plans to revamp one of Ballina’s best-known premises.
The one-time family-owned Garvey’s Bakery is set to be transformed into a state-of-the-art clothing outlet.
Sligo-based singer Shane Filan and his eldest brother Finbarr, who jointly run Shafin Developments Ltd, have purchased the O’Rahilly Street site and extensive plans for a three-storey retail development have been submitted to Ballina Town Council.
It is believed the 572 square metre store will house internationally-acclaimed fashion label Morgan de toi. The franchise for the French company first came to the west of Ireland when Shane Filan purchased Sligo’s Carlton Café from his parents and renovated the premises as a retail outlet housing the Morgan label, now run by his wife Gillian. The store has since moved to the Quayside Shopping Centre.
Gillian extended the retail franchise with a Galway outlet and it is now hoped planning will go through to locate a similar store in Ballina.
Sligo-based Vincent Hannon & Associates, chartered architects, are set to head up the development.
Should plans go ahead, the three-storey unit will join European labels Mexx, Ichi and Only, in Ballina’s growing retail market.

Retail giants ‘Marks & Sparks’ looking to Ballina

Anna-Marie Flynn

HIGH-STREET retailer Marks and Spencer have made moves to open a town centre flagship store in Ballina.
Representatives from the British chain, which currently has just one west of Ireland store in Galway, have already visited Ballina on two occasions and store developers are keen to get a town centre site.
The Mayo News has learned that the chain has made several enquiries with regard to the site, locally known as Reilly and Bolands, on Emmett Street, which was purchased by CPO by the Town Council. It is currently listed on the derelict sites register.
The plan may also incorporate an adjacent site should the proposals for a multi-million store go ahead.
Mayor Padraig Moore confirmed a river-side site is being discussed but plans are currently at a very early stage.
“We would welcome any retail interest such as this in the town and will do everything possible to facilitate it. It can only be good for the town as it generates employment and revenue,” he said.
A number of business people have held informal discussions in the town over a proposed walkway between the Emmett Street site and the main thoroughfare of Pearse Street.