£30m to be spent on Stillorgan centre

A planning application is to be lodged next month for the redevelopment and extension of Stillorgan Shopping Centre at a cost of more than £30 million.

An additional 130,000 square feet of retail space is to be provided, car parking facilities are to be doubled to accommodate 1,200 cars, and the existing shopping malls are to be covered and upgraded.

The new complex will cover most of the existing car park at the front and side of the centre, with the exception of the overflow car park on Lower Kilmacud Road. The four-storey building will have an underground car park, retail space at ground and first floor levels and two overhead floors of car parking.

The redevelopment will introduce a radical change in the centre and re-establish a streetscape on both Lower Kilmacud Road and the Dublin Road - a feature likely to find favour with the planners.

There will be parallel malls to complete a square-shaped mall configuration. The existing retail area will remain largely single storey when the malls are covered in and refurbished. Designed by architects A&D Wejchert, the new buildings will be concentrated along the Dublin Road and Lower Kilmacud Road frontages, rather than at the rear of the shopping centre. The entrance and exit for the car park will be along the Dublin Road side.

The previous owners failed to secure planning permission for a multi-storey car park in the service yard at the back of the shopping centre following protests by local residents. The revised plan by the new owners, Treasury Holdings, will be lodged with the planners following consultations with local residents.

The Stillorgan centre is seriously hampered at the moment by traffic congestion, particularly at weekends. The present parking arrangements are totally inadequate, making it difficult for many shoppers to enter and exit the centre.

A larger retail centre - the planning application provides for an increase in retail space from 150,000 to 280,000 square feet - will enable Stillorgan to compete with newer shopping centres which have a range of high profile UK multiples.

Marks and Spencer would obviously be a strong contender for a department store of up to 70,000 square feet if the expansion is to go ahead. Other multiples likely to rent some of the 18 additional stores would be Boots, Argos, Etam, Oasis and Early Learning.

Palmer McCormack are letting agents.