CIE dispels fears Û800m station plan has stalled

CIÉ has not held meetings with An Bórd Pleanála in relation to the proposed €800 million redevelopment of Ceannt Station in almost two years.

A spokesperson for the planning authority said that the project is now “in abeyance” or “inactive” until the applicant, CIÉ, indicates that it wants to proceed with the project and continue with the pre-consultation stage.

The pre-consultation with An Bórd Pleanála is needed to determine whether or not the redevelopment of the train station is in fact considered a ‘Strategic Infrastructure Project’ (SIP). If it is considered SIP then CIÉ will bypass the local authority and submit an application with An Bórd Pleanála, if not it must proceed through the normal planning channels with Galway City Council.

A spokesperson for An Bórd Pleanála told the Galway City Tribune that since the application was lodged by CIÉ in March 2007, there have been five meetings between the two parties. The last meeting took place on October 30, 2008.

But a spokesperson for CIÉ said the company is planning to proceed with the project and added it was still in discussions with the preferred developer for the project, revealed as Gerry Barrett in this newspaper last year.

“We have not stopped dealing with this project. There is nothing sinister to the best of my knowledge. We are continuing with the discussions with the preferred developer with a view to starting the project,” said the spokesperson who confirmed as of yet there is no firm start date.

As well as a new train station there are plans for retail space and residential units in the redevelopment. The entire project is expected to be completed in four or five phases and would take around 10 years to finish.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune