Penneys Development

carlaboi

Anyone know when this development is going ahead or if it is? Its a bloody eyesore down there.

Quiet Lurker

carlaboi wrote: »

Anyone know when this development is going ahead or if it is? Its a bloody eyesore down there.

Its still stuck in An Bord Pleanala and for some reason they have not even indicated a decision date on the file
http://pleanala.ie/casenum/236653.htm

SV

Car park is like baghdad

MrMcLegend

remember when that was the new shopping centre in the town? ha i remember carol singin down there in primary school! the park was a revelation when it first opened in fairness! think we used t call it jimmys field or somethin before that!

tonyheaney

hi any update on the new penny's yet??

carlaboi

So this is what is happening with Penneys! Whos the objector?

http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/tabId/369/itemId/9183/Objections-to-new-town-centre-are-outrageous.aspx

tonyheaney

carlaboi wrote: »

So this is what is happening with Penneys! Whos the objector?

http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/tabId/369/itemId/9183/Objections-to-new-town-centre-are-outrageous.aspx

could be Din Rii boss??? or is it the house behind penny's as you drive down the hill in the car park????

slimjimmc

carlaboi wrote: »

So this is what is happening with Penneys! Whos the objector?

http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/tabId/369/itemId/9183/Objections-to-new-town-centre-are-outrageous.aspx

You can check if there's one name in common.
ePlanning (click on "Submissions")
Pleanála

I see the development includes a "landmark" 8 storey building which if it gets built would make it the tallest building in town, 2 or 3 floors higher than Shamrock Plaza.

Dj

Quiet Lurker wrote: »

Its still stuck in An Bord Pleanala and for some reason they have not even indicated a decision date on the file
http://pleanala.ie/casenum/236653.htm

carlaboi wrote: »

So this is what is happening with Penneys! Whos the objector?

According to the Bord Pleanala website there is only one objector Catherine Kelly and family must be one of the residents, the other interested parties are just state bodies.

foggy_lad

There must be a lot of business people in the town with money tied up in the developement for a jeweller based in Tullow street to be so vocal about the objection?

sandin

foggy_lad wrote: »

There must be a lot of business people in the town with money tied up in the developement for a jeweller based in Tullow street to be so vocal about the objection?

Its not that they have any direct financial interest. The town centre is on its knees. I doubt if any store is making a profit. Staff numbers are at a minimum.

A large pennys store would attract thousands into the centre and give a lift to the area. Hence business would do better, more people would be employed and retailers maight again make a profit.

The proposed Carlow store will be one of the biggest Penneys in the country and would make Carlow a shopping destination once again.

Though why Fairgreen, Carlow SC, The Town Centre Traders & the Retail Park can't joing together to promote Carlow as a shopping destination is beyond my comprehension - It must be the only town in Ireland where a shopping centre, town centre & retail park are all within walking distance. All it would takes is some balls on behalf of the various areas and a free shuttle bus so that you only need to park in one car park to to all your shopping.

But in having experience of some of the vested interests, this will never happen.

BTW - My guess is someone connected to Dunnes are holding up the development.

slimjimmc

foggy_lad wrote: »

There must be a lot of business people in the town with money tied up in the developement for a jeweller based in Tullow street to be so vocal about the objection?

There's another incentive too, it would bring the commercial centre of town back towards the traditional area. I'm sure many businesses in Tullow St/Dublin St expect they would benefit from that.

Thundercats Ho

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/planning-granted-for-new-penneys-store-in-sligo-510654.html

Penneys have been granted planning for a large store in Sligo.
I wonder will this have any implications for the proposed re-development of the Carlow store?

maxer68

Thundercats Ho wrote: »

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/planning-granted-for-new-penneys-store-in-sligo-510654.html

Penneys have been granted planning for a large store in Sligo.
I wonder will this have any implications for the proposed re-development of the Carlow store?

No, none whatsoever.

jaycarlow

Why would a pennys store in Sligo impact a proposed store in Carlow??:rolleyes:

Thundercats Ho

jaycarlow wrote: »

Why would a pennys store in Sligo impact a proposed store in Carlow??:rolleyes:

Well 'rolleyes' i asked the question. I thought it was possible because as there doesn't seem to be any movement on the Carlow revamp, they may have said fair enough if we can't upgrade in Carlow we'll invest somewhere else.

I've since learned that Penneys are renovating loads of there outlets all across Europe.

tonyheaney

Thundercats Ho wrote: »

Well 'rolleyes' i asked the question. I thought it was possible because as there doesn't seem to be any movement on the Carlow revamp, they may have said fair enough if we can't upgrade in Carlow we'll invest somewhere else.

I've since learned that Penneys are renovating loads of there outlets all across Europe.

Well Mary W says there is only one objection to the development and its coming from the house behind penny's. They even went so far as to offer him a ton of money to move

carlaboi

Penneys in Carlow is been held up by objections to the planning permission. Once sorted we should know if it will go ahead or not.

tonyheaney

carlaboi wrote: »

Penneys in Carlow is been held up by objections to the planning permission. Once sorted we should know if it will go ahead or not.

:rolleyes:

IvyTheTerrible

sandin wrote: »

Its not that they have any direct financial interest. The town centre is on its knees. I doubt if any store is making a profit. Staff numbers are at a minimum.

A large pennys store would attract thousands into the centre and give a lift to the area. Hence business would do better, more people would be employed and retailers maight again make a profit.

The proposed Carlow store will be one of the biggest Penneys in the country and would make Carlow a shopping destination once again.

Though why Fairgreen, Carlow SC, The Town Centre Traders & the Retail Park can't joing together to promote Carlow as a shopping destination is beyond my comprehension - It must be the only town in Ireland where a shopping centre, town centre & retail park are all within walking distance. All it would takes is some balls on behalf of the various areas and a free shuttle bus so that you only need to park in one car park to to all your shopping.

But in having experience of some of the vested interests, this will never happen.

BTW - My guess is someone connected to Dunnes are holding up the development.

When I moved to Carlow in 2004, I seem to recall there was a cheap bus going from the estates to Fairgreen and the town centre but it had to be stopped because of certain brats in a not-so-nice estate throwing stones etc at the bus...

Also, on the subject of the car park, it used to bug me having to pay to park considering the state of it, all the holes in it.

tonyheaney

jaycarlow wrote: »

Why would a pennys store in Sligo impact a proposed store in Carlow??:rolleyes:

well since every thing is closing down in carlow you'd never kow... Sony is closing down next month

slimjimmc

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

When I moved to Carlow in 2004, I seem to recall there was a cheap bus going from the estates to Fairgreen and the town centre but it had to be stopped because of certain brats in a not-so-nice estate throwing stones etc at the bus...

Also, on the subject of the car park, it used to bug me having to pay to park considering the state of it, all the holes in it.

I think the real reason it stopped was because the council's subsidy period expired (had already been extended) and it wasn't viable for the operator (Rapid Express I think) to continue. The routes and schedule also avoided the main industrial estates, which may not have helped.
I remember they had a lovely brand new 60/70 seater sized bus for a few months after the launch but this was replaced with an older more worn unit from Naas for a brief period before it too was replaced with an equally old and unattractive 30 seater sized vehicle.

tonyheaney

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

When I moved to Carlow in 2004, I seem to recall there was a cheap bus going from the estates to Fairgreen and the town centre but it had to be stopped because of certain brats in a not-so-nice estate throwing stones etc at the bus...

Also, on the subject of the car park, it used to bug me having to pay to park considering the state of it, all the holes in it.

Ill assume its Johns Sweeney park your referring to? I lived in southhill in limerick and we had the same but the bus's resumed although on a limited basis. As for the town not joining together?? no there all greedy buggers

pinkfloyd34

tonyheaney wrote: »

Well Mary W says there is only one objection to the development and its coming from the house behind penny's. They even went so far as to offer him a ton of money to move

i think i know the people who live there and they are the salt of the earth people, carlow through and through and they are well within their rights, imagine some english owned corporation wanting you to moved out of your house that you have grown up in for some development, id want 2 tons of money let alone one ton,
i know people are crying out for this re: jobs and all but what about the smaller traders in the town, why cant we support them first and support their jobs, people assume a few hundred jobs in pennys is really important for the town, if we all shopped from local independant people it would create more jobs than you could imagine

maxer68

pinkfloyd34 wrote: »

, imagine some english owned corporation wanting you to moved out of your house that you have grown up in for some development,

Penny's is Irish. Penny's & Primark head office is operated from Mary Street in Dublin. All their buyers and designers are based there.

Its ultimate shareholder is Galen Weston who is Canadian.

Tax on the profits of all Pennys & Primark outlets throughout Europe are paid into Ireland.

Also, the independent retailers in the town WANT this development as it will bring the shopping area back into the heart of the town.

pinkfloyd34

maxer68 wrote: »

Penny's is Irish. Penny's & Primark head office is operated from Mary Street in Dublin. All their buyers and designers are based there.

Its ultimate shareholder is Galen Weston who is Canadian.

Tax on the profits of all Pennys & Primark outlets throughout Europe are paid into Ireland.

Also, the independent retailers in the town WANT this development as it will bring the shopping area back into the heart of the town.

i stand corrected, i just assumed it was english with primark all over england, and on your second point, i suppose at least its not another development on the outskirts

Nead21

Debenhams have been confirmed for this development with M&S rumored to be interested also, according to The Nationalist.

carlaboi

Looks like the development is going ahead according to todays Nationalst. This is great news for the town!

http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/tabId/369/itemId/10877/Decision-on-80m-town-centre-in-two-months.aspx

Grassy Knoll

Hold up has been on the developers side NAMA related - Penneys will be effectively exchanging the site for the construction of the new store. Latest I have heard - after many false starts is next January. Undoubtedly it will be a boost to that area of the town which is a bit jayded- however there is a vision required to give the place a shot in the arm - will see if our local elders are up to it - most are second rate duds IMO more fixated with micro level issues and party oneupmanship

Agent Coulson

The old L&N is been painted at the moment wasn't there talk Penny's would move in there for the duration of the redevelopment.

tonyheaney

Grassy Knoll wrote: »

Hold up has been on the developers side NAMA related - Penneys will be effectively exchanging the site for the construction of the new store. Latest I have heard - after many false starts is next January. Undoubtedly it will be a boost to that area of the town which is a bit jayded- however there is a vision required to give the place a shot in the arm - will see if our local elders are up to it - most are second rate duds IMO more fixated with micro level issues and party oneupmanship

where did you get your information?

tonyheaney

Agent Coulson wrote: »

The old L&N is been painted at the moment wasn't there talk Penny's would move in there for the duration of the redevelopment.

I had heard the Carlow shopping centre offered them half priced rent if they moved in.

Pennies is the cheapest carpark around I bet that will soon change

Grassy Knoll

I got it from someone who knows directly about the transaction not local hearsay which is usually wide of the mark ... I can't comment on the terms of the rent deal as I don't know, I'd reckon penneys held the whip hand though ... Local operators would be small fry to an outfit like them ....

Grassy Knoll

Latest on the Penneys saga is they will be moving after Christmas to the old Super Valu. Development on the site wont commence probably until the second quarter of the year.

A number of big foreign retail chains - most of whom are not in town already - are being linked to the new development. Certainly it will be a definite game changer in terms of Carlow's positioning as a retail destination. Certainly the focus will move from Fairgreen back toward that side of the town.

I just would hope the wider planning piece would be acted upon by the local authority officials - the town as an entity is definitely punching way below its weight and looks decrepit in places despite some well motivated and laudable attempts by the local business community to spruce the place up.

Nokia6230i

Grassy Knoll wrote: »

Latest on the Penneys saga is they will be moving after Christmas to the old Super Valu. Development on the site wont commence probably until the second quarter of the year.

A number of big foreign retail chains - most of whom are not in town already - are being linked to the new development. Certainly it will be a definite game changer in terms of Carlow's positioning as a retail destination. Certainly the focus will move from Fairgreen back toward that side of the town.

I just would hope the wider planning piece would be acted upon by the local authority officials - the town as an entity is definitely punching way below its weight and looks decrepit in places despite some well motivated and laudable attempts by the local business community to spruce the place up.

You'll excuse one if one doesn't hold ones breath on this; it's a running joke at this stage.

Grassy Knoll

Seems an unfortunate confluence of recession, financing issues, planning delays, trying to sign up tenants etc have all combined to cause delays on this. I suppos Penneys will be paying rent from Jan so that will help move it

Anyway the quality of tenants signed up is high - all major household names and if one who is considering - moves it will be quite a coup for the town

Anyway a bit of good news to end the year all going to plan...

Laois_Man

Grassy Knoll wrote: »

Anyway the quality of tenants signed up is high - all major household names

Who?

Penny's
TK-Maxx
H&M
Boots
Marks & Spencer

Any of those?

Rum Ham!

Do Penneys own the premises? Couldn't see them getting a bunch of other clothing retailers to move in with them, maybe they don't own it. Would be great to see something start happening.

Grassy Knoll

All of those are amongst those apparently signed with one considering. The won't own the delelopment - some developer up the country is doing it.

road_high

It's welcome guys but certainly not going to be the panacea some seem to think. It's not going to huge help Tullow st and surrounds off there on its own in Hanover? There's already a pretty large shopping centre (ex SQ one) lying decimated and half empty- how is adding more going to help?

Rum Ham!

road_high wrote: »

It's welcome guys but certainly not going to be the panacea some seem to think. It's not going to huge help Tullow st and surrounds off there on its own in Hanover? There's already a pretty large shopping centre (ex SQ one) lying decimated and half empty- how is adding more going to help?

Standard of stores in the current shopping centre is far too poor to pull in footfall anymore. At least with new stores opening it on the penneys site it will be something for Carlow even if it does kill off an already dying setup in the process

road_high

Rum Ham! wrote: »

Standard of stores in the current shopping centre is far too poor to pull in footfall anymore. At least with new stores opening it on the penneys site it will be something for Carlow even if it does kill off an already dying setup in the process

Fair enough Penneys, they're already there. But county the shopping centre be rejuvenated, units made bigger and those stores could go in there.

Grassy Knoll

Read there is talk of the council looking to upgrade Tullow St streetscape- if one doesn't exist, an actual proper development plan should be put together- if not that upgrade is a sticking plaster gesture

Dough nutting of town centres is a well established phenomenon esp in the UK - if all the stores are in retail parks what does one expect. Kilkenny to be fair seems to have got the balance correct - eg the Fairgreen is actually 3 developments if you include the adjacent Next and woodies stores - poor planning or what? Out of town has a function for maybe car dealerships, furniture etc but for regular consumer retail should be a no no going forward.

The council should also try to poach the likes of Dunnes into co Carlow with a rates holiday or some such - if in time thy could be attracted to the Carlow shopping centre they would be a real boost - parked just over the county bounds in Laois means we get nothing anyway so they could be a magnet for town centre trade

The tullow st old Ritz site is very big and was being assembled down to College/
Brown st with a view to create a retail / residential centre - that would revitalise that area if it could be reactivated. Also with decentralisation the original plan was the government office would be in the town hall car park - would 100 posts if ever relocated to an office there not provide a shot in the arm for town centre retail ?

The IT is a huge element in the town - again as posters have suggested here before could thy be invited to have some presence in the town centre? The old library on Dublin st could be gifted to them? A better link up with St Pats?

It is time for the elected gob$ ites on the Council to earn their corn ... The town is punching way below its weight

Laois_Man

Grassy Knoll wrote: »

The council should also try to poach the likes of Dunnes into co Carlow with a rates holiday or some such - if in time thy could be attracted to the Carlow shopping centre they would be a real boost - parked just over the county bounds in Laois means we get nothing anyway so they could be a magnet for town centre trade

There's no way the old Superquinn premises is big enough for Dunnes Supermarket and clothes stores - in-fact, would it even be big enough for one of them? You can be certain it is of utmost importance to Dunnes to keep them together.

road_high

Laois_Man wrote: »

There's no way the old Superquinn premises is big enough for Dunnes Supermarket and clothes stores - in-fact, would it even be big enough for one of them? You can be certain it is of utmost importance to Dunnes to keep them together.

There's absolutely no chance of Dunnes moving, their flagship store in Graigue does a roaring trade because of its convenient location.

Owryan

Penney's staff were told before Christmas that they would be moving early in 2017.

The redevelopment is to include the old Hannover Shopping Centre (thank fcuk).

road_high

Article on KCLR today about it..."

Agent Coulson

This thread started 6 years ago today shows how long this has been on hold held up etc.

Guess they will be hoping to be open for next Christmas.

Nokia6230i

Agent Coulson wrote: »

This thread started 6 years ago today shows how long this has been on hold held up etc.

Guess they will be hoping to be open for next Christmas.

Nope; it'll be a 2.5 year lead-in.

What I can't figure out is if it's Carlow S.C. they're moving to or Penny Lane because S.V. means both locations to me.......

Rum Ham!

Nokia6230i wrote: »

Nope; it'll be a 2.5 year lead-in.

What I can't figure out is if it's Carlow S.C. they're moving to or Penny Lane because S.V. means both locations to me.......

Carlow S.C I was told

tommycahir

Been told that penny's have signed a 3 year contract with Carlow shopping centre to move into the old superquinn premise from march onwards.