Strong interest in acquiring the riverside site, which is accessed from the main Rosslare-Cork road and easily reached from across the south-east, has already been expressed by property developers from throughout Ireland and the U.K. A price of well over €1m per acre is expected for the land bank which is surplus to the port’s requirements following the transfer in recent years of commercial shipping activity down-river to the deepwater port at Belview.

Welcoming the placing of the site on the market, Cllr Ben Gavin, Chairman, Port of Waterford, said: “The importance of this site being developed can not be overstated and its huge job creation potential has been recognised by the local authorities in Waterford and by central Government with many comparing its potential impact here to that of the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) on Dublin.

“The development of the site has also been flagged for some years as part of the key to exploiting Waterford’s full potential as a gateway city under the National Spatial

Strategy and to helping rebalance the city where growth has long been centred on the south side of the Suir. The redevelopment of these man-made wharves for appropriate mixed uses will dramatically extend the city centre area while the sale of the site will also clearly have very positive implications for the Port of Waterford’s financial position.”

A €500,000 international architectural and urban design competition focusing on possible future uses for the North Quays’ site concluded in October 2002 when a vision emerged that envisaged a mix of development on the site including residential and office accommodation, a hotel, light industrial units and a landmark venue building as its focal point.

The new owners of the site will also be greatly aided in the planning process by the fact that Waterford City Council has prepared detailed planning guidelines that will provide those who acquire the landbank with a blueprint when preparing their planning applications.

Commenting on the sale, Desmond O’Toole of joint selling agents O’Shea O’Toole & Partners said, “The cessation of commercial shipping in Waterford’s inner port provides a massive development opportunity on the North Quays. The development of this site will help Waterford to generate critical mass and reshape the city centre’s urban form.

“It is certainly no exaggeration to describe this as the single most important tract of development land to come to the market in Waterford for a generation. The opening of the purpose-built deep-water port at Belview in 1993 began the movement of shipping out of the city centre and the completion of this transfer of activity now allows the Port of Waterford to dispose of this valuable land bank.”

Stephen Cassidy of joint selling agents Hamilton Osborne King added that the site’s zoning for city centre commercial uses meant that Waterford City Council is likely to look favourably on proposals for the North Quays that include retail outlets; offices; public, cultural and recreational buildings; hotels; guesthouses; restaurants; pubs; nightclubs; underground and multi-storey car-parks; townhouses; apartments; studios; craft workshops and marinas.

“The location of the site also lends itself to signature buildings of a more substantial height than Waterford has previously seen. The preparation by Waterford City Council of detailed planning guidelines for the site will ensure that the new owners will have a clear insight to permissible uses and designs when framing their plans for the site – something that should considerably hasten their successful receipt of planning permission and the commencement of work on this important high-profile tract of land.”

Further details and tender documents for the North Quays site are available from O’Shea O’Toole & Partners (051-876 757) and Hamilton Osborne King (01-618 1385) and should be submitted by January 27th, 2004.

Maritime Transport includes responsibility for:-
- the commercial ports,
- shipping policy and
- the State regional ports and harbours. Maritime Safety encompasses:-
- the Maritime Safety Directorate and
- the Irish Coast Guard.

The formal process of transfer to the Department of Transport will get underway shortly with a view to a smooth transition by the New Year.
Both Ministers believe that the integration of the Maritime Transport and Maritime Safety functions in their totality under the Transport Policy framework makes strategic and operational sense.

Minister Dempsey stated: " Both myself and Martin Cullen are in full agreement that this move is in the interests of integrated transport policy delivery, the users of ports and shipping services and the sectors themselves"

Minister Cullen stated: "This transfer of functions enables all major transport issues relating to both services and investment across the roads, public transport, aviation and maritime transport sectors to be integrated under the aegis of a single Department of State. This move makes obvious sense in the context of the implementation of Transport 21 in the coming months and years"

The effective date for the transfer is 1 January 2006. The associated changes to budgets and Estimates will be reflected in the Revised Estimates Volume for 2006 to be published in February 2006. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has the responsibility for these functions and associated budgets until 31st December 2005.