EXTENSION TO PLANNING PERMISSION FOR DOCKS DEVELOPMENT
Galway Harbour Company have been given extra time by the City Council for developments at the Docks and at the Harbour Enterprise Park.
Planning permission was originally granted in 2008 for the demolition of the existing Centre Pier building at New Docks, which was to be replaced by a media centre for the Volvo Ocean Race at the time.
That planning expires this year, but the Harbour Company has been granted an extension of 3 years to the planning permission.
The building at Centre Pier was to become the centre for Galway Harbour's leisure facilities, after the Volvo Ocean Race was over.
A second planning application was granted planning in 2008 for an 88 metre-long slipway and dry dock at the Harbour Enterprise Park in Renmore.
The developments did not proceed due to a lack of funding and the Harbour Company has now been granted an extension to the planning permission until 2016.
Meanwhile, a planning application for the first phase of a major expansion of Galway port is due to be submitted through the IROPI process next month. (May)
IROPI stands for the 'imperative reasons of over-riding public interest' and the 50 million euro expansion will accommodate major cruise liners.
The Harbour company hopes that the public and various vested interests could get involved in creating a major performance arena at the Docks, where the centre pier building is located.