Developers to lodge second planning application for Riverside Shopping centre in Longford town

Developers are to lodge a second planning application for the renamed Riverside Shopping centre in Longford town and it includes proposals to create new urban space and open access to River Camlin.

An initial plan to fit out and furnish a new six screen cinema on the first floor of the vacant centre was approved by Longford County Council and is currently with Bord Pleanala following an appeal.

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Welcoming news of the second planning application, Cllr Joe Flaherty said: “The second application gets into the real meat of the development and provides for the demolition of the existing cinema and the creation of a new urban space at river walk level. It will connect to Bridge St and also steps up to a new glazed atrium entrance for the centre.”

The Riverside Shopping centre is a significant project that will put the focus firmly on the River Camlin and is  the first time that a major commercial development focuses on the potential of the waterway. 

Cllr Flaherty said,  “This is something that has been done with great success in Limerick and closer to home, Carrick on Shannon.”

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In addition, the plan provides for a new small retail / cafe area at river walkway level and then two new retail units at the upper level of the new urban space.

Cllr Flaherty concluded, “The application is timely and will give added momentum to the successful Camlin Quarter consultation period which began last week and feeds into a plan for the Lower Main St / Connolly Barracks / Gt Water St area. That draft plan will be available early new year. The Omniplex project is the type of private sector investment and vision that will underpin the Camlin Quarter plans.”

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