|
COUNTY TOWN MOVING CLOSER TO 'CITY' STATUS. . . Tom Kelly Reports A £20m. commercial development is planned for Castlebar which will bring the town closer to 'city' status. The massive investment will be made over a five year period in transforming a six-acres site at Moneenbradagh into a 'Business Park.' Local contractor and property developer, Mr. Tony Gaughan, has made application to Mayo County Council and Castlebar Urban Council for the project on prime land located off the N5 roadway at the rear of Tom Rice's Tool & Hire property. The proposal involves the construction of a retail/commercial park with a total ground floor of 24,193 sq. metres and subdivided into 18 blocks. Mr. Gaughan is required to obtain planning permission from both the County Council and Urban Council because the site straddles the existing urban boundary. He already holds planning approval for a major hotel at the location, but these plans have now been scrapped. Mr. Gaughan spoke exclusively about his new proposals when contacted last night by the Connaught Telegraph. He explained: "As the county town is developing into the third largest town in Connaught, the large multiples see Castlebar as an ideal base for distribution to their various stores throughout the region. "I have had a substantial number of enquiries from big clients looking for facilities in which to set up in Castlebar, but space is limited in the town at the present time. "In the same way as Mayo County Council developed industrial units in Westport, I am going a step further in providing a complete package for individuals and manufacturers who want to set up their own businesses in Castlebar. "The town has developed phenomenally over the past decade. In order to provide the necessary infrastructure to maintain this growth, a need exists for a modern business park which will carry the town into the new millennium. "The business park will act as an enticement to new and larger industries and businesses to set up here, and consequently create more employment.' Mr. Gaughan stated that people from the Mayo region were travelling to similar business parks which had been developed so successfully in Galway. "The objective of my proposal is to reverse the trend and keep the business in the town and county.' He outlined he was prepared to commence the first phase of work, a total of 30,000 sq. feet, within a short time of planning permission being granted. The plans for Mayo's first business park were designed by Mr. John Hamrock, Architect, Newport Road, Castlebar.
|
