The Republic's biggest shopping centre is still on target to open on time for the important pre-Easter period. Barry O'Halloran reports.
The first and biggest phase of Dundrum Town Centre will open its doors to the public at 10 a.m. on March 3rd, according to a spokesman for the project yesterday.
The 92,000 m2 complex will include the State's first House of Fraser outlet, which will be the anchor tenant, taking up 13,000 m2. The other tenants will include Tesco, Eason's, Penney's and Marks & Spencer.
Recent reports claimed that work on the centre was running behind schedule. However, the spokesman dismissed this yesterday saying that it was "all systems go".
The centre will generate a €40 million a year rent roll for developers Castlethorn Construction, which is run by Mr John McLoughlin, Mr Brian Wallace, Mr John Fitzsimons, Mr Joseph O'Reilly and Mr Liam Maye.
The spokesman said yesterday that most of the tenants had begun fitting out their premises. House of Fraser has brought over 40 shop fitters from the UK to complete its preparations.
The main contractor in the development is construction and civil engineering group, Sisk, and it will cost €650 million to build. The three weeks before the Easter weekend is one of the most important for the retail business outside the lucrative build-up to Christmas. The centre's tenants are keen to open and begin trading as this period approaches.
The second phase of the centre will be completed in the autumn.