UK RETAIL giant Marks & Spencer has, after years of speculation, confirmed that it is to open a flagship store at the proposed new Horizon Mall on the Dublin Road.
The planned 72,000 square foot branch will be an anchor store at the as-yet unfinished shopping centre, formerly known as Parkway Valley.
It is expected that the proposed Marks & Spencers branch will create 250 retail jobs for Limerick.
According to a company spokesperson, the development is subject to planning consent but heads of terms have been agreed and the much-demanded store is set to open in autumn 2016.
A number of Limerick public representatives and businesspeople have expressed concern that the development will be detrimental to the city centre.
Retail Excellence Ireland said it was disappointed that Marks & Spencer are planning an out of town store as “there are big plans for the city and M&S would be a great addition”.
Senior Planner with Limerick Local Authorities Gerry Sheeran said the Council’s current retail strategy encourages the development of the city centre only.
“At the moment we have a retail strategy that encourages the development of the city centre only as we felt that development was spread too much in the past.
“However there is existing planning permission for Parkway Valley, that was extended and it stands for another three-and-a-half years so we have no control over who goes in.”
Marks & Spencer had originally sought to open its first Limerick store at The Crescent Shopping Centre, but was refused permission from both Limerick County Council and An Bord Pleanala due to concerns about added traffic congestion.
The driving force behind the proposed development is Belfast-based developer Suneil Sharma, who acquired the 15-acre site in 2008 after the collapse of the original developer Liam Carroll’s Zoe Group.
The Zoe Group had completed the foundations, floors and much of the steel work for the Parkway Valley centre before it went into liquidation.