Waterford's inner city has been undergoing a gradual, piece-by-piece facelift which began in the mid-1980s and saw over £50 million invested in designated areas over the past five years. The revamp is about to take on a new dimension by expanding the heart of the city into the north quays - an area that has for a long time lain derelict and desolate apart from the odd disused grain store or unsightly cattle ship.

Waterford port's container traffic has progressively migrated four miles down river since Belview port opened in 1993, leaving large tracts of land adjacent to the river on the north quays. The northside has been largely left out in the cold in terms of social and commercial activity, but this is set to change with the proposed redevelopment of a 9,600 sq ft site with south facing river frontage on the North Quay from Rice Bridge to Abbey Church.

A conceptual plan drawn up by the OPW envisages that the site will feature a new hotel, marina, a residential and retail development, a docking station for cruise liners and a conference facility. A passenger ferry service across the Suir will link the north and south sides of the city.

Developers have been invited to tender for the 12.6 acre site on the north quays, owned by the Harbour Commissioners. Hamilton Osborne King, joint sale agent with O'Shea, O'Toole and partners, quoted over £10 million for the waterfront site. The harbour commissioners say they will take good design and an optimum use of the land available into consideration along with price in making a decision on tenders.

The IAWS Group also own four acres of land on the site, which is also expected to be offered for sale.

The quayside areas are among the few pockets of developable land left in Waterford's inner city, which has led to controversy over some recent developments on the south quays, regarded by some as not the best use of the precious space available. A chronic lack of car-parking facilities has for long been an issue, particularly since a sizeable parking facility on Merchant's Quay was closed to make way for the new Bus Eireann terminus building.

Moves to build quayside car-parks to meet the shortfall have also met with some disapproval, according to Frank O'Donoghue, chief executive officer, Waterford Chamber of Commerce.

"A lot argue that it is not the best use of the waterfront ground but we badly need more car spaces. They will be built by going into the River Suir, which is much wider than the Liffey, on reclaimed ground."

The new CIE bus station on Merchant's Quay has won many admirers for its striking appearance since it was built in March but it has not been without its detractors. A local group calling themselves the Save the Quays Campaign lodged an objection with An Bord Pleanala on the grounds that the bus station, which takes up a sizeable chunk of land, was not the best use of the waterfront site. There were also concerns that the station would add to traffic congestion on the quays.

Designed by CIE architect John Clancy, this lightweight building with a glazed drum replaces a taller solid shed-like structure.

The south quays have been undergoing a gradual transformation. Private investment has seen the large-scale redevelopment of Scotch Quay and Canada Street, which now has a mix of townhouses, apartments and office accommodation.

The municipal marina, constructed in 1997 under the city's urban renewal initiative, now has a £750,000 berthing facility with state-of-the-art pontoons and refuelling facilities at Merchant's Quay, opposite the Granary, which caters for craft too large to be accommodated at the nearby Marina. The aim of the Port of Waterford Company, which had substantial grant aid from Bord Failte, is to make Waterford a more attractive stopover for boat users.

Clyde Wharf, built by Clyde shipping company in the 1950s, which, until recently, contained a disused transit shed, was acquired by Waterford Corporation in 1998 as the site for Waterford's millennium project. Work has already begun on the site, which will feature a public plaza with a riverside performance area with seating; it will also incorporate a major sculptural work. Half of the £1.7 million cost is being met by the National Millennium Committee.