Businessman says Shannon rail link can be made viable

The owners of Skycourt Shannon Town Centre are prepared to develop a rail service linking Shannon with Limerick and Ennis. Mr. Barry Boland, Managing Director of Beaux Walk Properties said that given the right conditions the project can be made viable. "We are offering to put together a consortium of appropriate business interests and skills to develop this vital rail link."

He was speaking at a tree planting ceremony by T�naiste Mary Harney marking the beginning of a 135 million Euro redevelopment of Shannon Town Centre. Mr. Boland said the rail project will require a combination of grant aid and capital allowances from government.

He said it is clear from the recent Strategic Rail Review, that the link will not be provided unless business people in the mid-west make it happen. "Skycourt is prepared to work in partnership with government to provide a service that will give Shannon Town and Airport the rail link it so badly needs for future growth," Mr. Boland said.

He also called for decentralisation of a government department to Shannon. "One of the cornerstones of realising the ambitions of the National Spatial Strategy for Shannon Town is decentralisation." Mr. Boland told the T�naiste that Beaux Walk Properties would provide custom built office accommodation for any government department moving to Shannon.

"At a time when industrial employment has taken a knock in Shannon, decentralisation can redress the balance and give the town the vital impetus to move it forward into a new age," he said. "Decentralisation can pose real difficulties for departments who need the right office and residential accommodation suited to their precise needs. This is not a problem for Shannon. We will build whatever they need right here in Shannon and make it available at a good price, provided that it can be done before the Integrated Area Plan allowances expire in December 2004."

Ms. Harney planted an Irish Oak sapling to mark the beginning of what Mr. Boland described as nothing less than the complete transformation of Shannon Town Centre which was built in the early 1970's. In 2001,it was bought by Beaux Walk Properties who rebranded the centre, Skycourt Shannon Town.

The news that Dunnes Stores is to join Tesco and Lidl on the campus with a new department store has been described as a major breakthrough by the developers. "Many shopping centres consider themselves fortunate to have one or two anchor tenants, but to have secured three prestige names puts Shannon in a unique position," said Mr. Boland.

Mr. Boland said the centre is not just about major anchor tenants. 60 businesses trade very successfully here and the centre is already a major retail success with a wide range of shopping facilities and services.

Notes for Editors: The 135 million Euro reconstitution of the existing complex, will effectively create a new Town Centre for Shannon. The work will be completed in three phases:

Phase 1 Euro 60 million The planning process for Phase 1 was successfully completed in August 2002 and it will include a fashion mall, food court, new department store, new Town Square and a 390 space multi-storey car park. Construction commenced on 1st December 2002 by John Sisk & Sons. The architects are John Thompson & Partners, Limerick. The property agents are Lisney.

Phase 2 Euro 60 million The decision by Dunnes to locate in Shannon copperfastens Phase 1. The developers now hope to turn their attention to Phase 2 which will provide a civic street, an hotel and pub/restaurant and further retail units. The developers expect to lodge this planning application within the next three to four months.

Phase 3 Euro 15 million. A decision by Clare Council on Phase 3 of the development is expected in the next three weeks. This is a joint venture with Shannon Development for a residential development on lands located within the Town Centre Area. The proposal provides for 232 residential units consisting of town houses and 2./3/4 bedroom apartments.

Phase 4 The allocation of a decentralised department to Shannon by the Government would underpin the development of an office complex at Skycourt Shannon Town centre with a potential value of a further 30 million Euro.