2,000 jobs on cards as retail project gets 100m revamp

A mothballed retail project on the outskirts of Limerick city, which was abandoned mid-build during the property crash, is set to undergo a 100m redevelopment, with the potential to create 2,000 jobs.

A planning application will be lodged with Limerick City and County Council today by Belfast-based developer Suneil Sharma, to complete the partially-built Parkway Shopping Centre on the main Dublin to Limerick road as Horizon Mall.

The application will seek approval to amend the existing planning permission for the site and to reduce the projects scale, while retaining some of its core elements.

The project represents one of the largest private sector investments in the Limerick area and, if sanctioned, will create 500 construction jobs and up to 1,500 retail jobs when completed.

However, city councillors and some business interests have previously argued that the focus should be on investment in the city centre.

Work on the Parkway site ground to a halt in 2007 when developer Liam Carrolls Zoe Group collapsed.

Mr Sharma, who has property interests in Limerick for over 15 years, subsequently bought the site.

He said its strategic location has already generated interest from several international retail brands, many of which would otherwise not consider locating in the city.

Marks & Spencer have agreed to take 100,000 square feet in the new scheme their largest store outside Dublin, he said.

We are involved in very positive discussions with other major retail brands and will be making further announcements about this in the weeks and months ahead.

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2,000 jobs on cards as retail project gets 100m revamp