OfficeMarket:   Bank of Ireland is to set up a regional office at the Shamrock Plaza development under construction in Carlow town.

The bank will operate from a retail premises of 584sq m (6,285sq ft) on the ground floor fronting on to Tullow Street and an overhead office extending to 602sq m (6,475sq ft). The overall scheme will have a floor area of 7,432sq m (80,000sq ft) - 1,575sq m (16,955sq ft) of retail and 5,946sq m (64,000sq ft) of offices - including seven retail units and 28 office suites from 139sq m (1,496sq ft) to 325sq m (3,500sq ft). The building will also include 21 apartments.

The decision by the bank to base their commercial branch in Shamrock Plaza will be seen as a major boost for the new business district which is being marketed by Dublin estate agent HWBC. The agency is quoting office rents of €237-€269 per sq m (€22-€25 per sq ft) and retail rents of over €538 per sq m (€50 per sq ft).