Back to the drawing board for shopping centre plan

The developers of the proposed shopping centre on the former Texas site in Tullamore town centre are to seek new planning permission for a revised project. Inverine Plc confirmed this week that they are considering redesigning the project and submitting a new planning application by the end of the year. Speaking to the Offaly Independent a spokesperson for developers Inverine Plc claimed that had their original planning application not been held up the shopping centre "would have been built". The proposal was given the green light by Tullamore Town Council in December 2008, but an appeal to An Bord Pleanala delayed final approval by another eleven months. In November 2009 Inverine Plc said the recession would not put them off the project, and they predicted an opening by Easter 2012 latest. However a changed economy means Inverine Plc has gone back to the drawing board. "What we're doing at the moment is re-designing the scheme," their spokesperson said this week. The original tenant-driven shopping centre plan included a double level shopping centre of approximately 40 units including a double level car park. Now developers are thinking of going for a 200,000 square foot single level development with 25-30 retail units and roof parking. Original anchor tenant Penneys remains on board with the scheme, but a second anchor tenant has yet to be sourced. Originally billed as a €50 million development, the Inverine Plc spokesperson said he wouldn't be able to say what the revised development will cost to build. However he did say it would create 700-800 job opportunities from start to finish. It's now hoped a planning application will be lodged for the revised development by year end.