RegenerationPlans for a major new development in Mullingar town centre have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála.
An environmental impact statement for the project on an 11-acre site was also lodged last Friday.
The extensive two-storey development is at Blackhall and will provide retail and office space and 1,000 underground car-parking spaces.
The site comprises the present car-park at Blackhall owned by Westmeath County Council along with the timber yard and several properties to the west of the development acquired by the developers, Bennett Construction Ltd.
Bennett was chosen by the council to develop the site in April 2004 and, since then, the company has worked with the council and the design team to complete plans for this major urban regeneration project. The Building Design Partnership will design the scheme.
It will be the largest development to have taken place in the town. Assuming timely acceptance of the plan by An Bord Pleanála, the council estimates the scheme will be completed by Christmas, 2007.
The scheme will include two anchor tenants utilising a combined 8,600sq m (92,570sq ft) of space, 41 retail units claiming another 10,000sq m (107,639sq ft), a large food court, creche, 100 residential units, an 1,800sq m (19,375sq ft) medical centre, 2,000sq m (21,528sq ft) of office space, and a Department of Education and Science and OPW office block of about 8,000sq m (86,111sq ft).
A separate planning application has been lodged for a 128-bed hotel with conferencing, bar, restaurant and banqueting facilities and another 200 separate car parking spaces.
The goal will be to ensure clear linkages with existing elements of Mullingar town centre.
The scheme highlights the linkages to Oliver Plunkett and Mount streets along with a strong connection to the proposed civic offices for Westmeath County Council. Bennett separately won this development project in 2004.
The town centre shopping scheme will be highly accessible with pedestrian access provided throughout, according to the council. Entering across the civic plaza from the Dominick Street end, the pedestrian can continue along the upper floor level or descend to the lower ground floor level of retail.
Ascending from Mount Street, one enters at the lower retail level, or has the choice of ascending the staircase or escalator to the upper ground floor level.
It will offer a mix of architectural styles from the company involved in projects such as Victoria Square in Belfast, Vasco De Gama Centre in Lisbon and TresAguas in Madrid.
