Multinational says city centre offices essential for opening in Galway
A major international company has refused to relocate in Galway unless the dated Hynes Building in the city centre gets an extensive overhaul, the building’s owners have claimed.
The company, which does not have a presence in Ireland, has identified the building on St Augustine Street as the only one that can meet its requirements.
It comes just weeks after the Galway City Tribune reported the city is unable to attract major international employers because of a lack of ‘high-spec’ city centre office space.
Dublin-based O’Malley Property Ltd, which owns the Hynes Building, already has the “high-quality FDI (Foreign Director Investment) tenant” lined up for the building. The library on the ground floor will remain in place.
The plans include an overhaul to the front of the building, a change of use of office type on the ground floor and first floor, and the construction of 97 square metres of new office space through removal and infill works.
According to the applicants, the tenant wants to locate in Galway City, and there is no other suitable office space available in the city centre.
“This tenant wishes to locate to Ireland and specifically to Galway City. There are no other suitable buildings in the city centre area that are capable of being upgraded to meet the requirements of this specific tenant within the necessary timeframe.
“It is understood that this tenant will not relocate to Galway (or indeed Ireland) if this building is not upgraded within the required timeframe.
“The Hynes Building dates from the 1970s and is now dated in terms of its appearance and the building services are obsolete, the building requires significant investment in order to return it to being a high-quality modern commercial premises.
“The development if permitted would result in the provision of an office with a large floorplate that will attract a specific high-quality FDI occupant, new to Galway (and Ireland), thus, the creation of new jobs in the city; the modernisation and upgrade of an existing building and improvements to the visual appearance of a city centre building.
“It is proposed to modernise and replace the ground floor windows. The doors to the main entrance lobby will also be replaced and the one, which served the former Social Protection office, will be replaced by a window,” the application reads.
Windows and spandrel panels on the upper floors and to the sides of the building will also be replaced.
A decision is expected from planners at the end of the month.