By Dan Walsh
Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, was in Wexford town last Thursday for the official ‘turning of the sod’ on Phase 1 of the iconic waterfront development at Trinity Wharf.
Wexford County Council estimate that Trinity Wharf has the potential to provide over 2,000 jobs over the next five to ten years.
Minister Darragh O’Brien stated that it was fitting that the newly established Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) will be located on the waterfront here at Trinity Wharf, providing the first anchor tenant. The agency will be responsible for licensing for marine activities, offshore renewable energy, which will play a key part of the climate action programme to reduce our carbon emissions by 2030 at national level. With the potential to create up to 200 jobs, it will be on a par with the Environmental Protection Agency already established at Johnstown Castle.
Chief Executive Officer at Wexford County Council, Tom Enright, said; “The Trinity Wharf development will provide an ideal property solution for the world’s leading companies to invest and grow. The ambitious economic project will deliver a public private partnership of €110 million investment in the flagship project and I want to commend Minister Darragh O’Brien who allocated over €20 million under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund towards the project.”
Mr Enright continued; “The investment in the Trinity Wharf development will complement the provision of the new purpose-built university campus in Wexford by South East Technology University (SETU).
Cllr. George Lawlor, Cathaoirleach stated; ‘It is wonderful to turn the sod on the first of many major works contracts that will see the transformation of the old factory site into a new modern, state of the art urban quarter on Wexford Town’s waterfront”. He added that ‘The provision of world class commercial property solutions for multi-national companies will enhance Wexford’s reputation as a destination for companies in the life sciences, technology and financial services area’.
Mayor of Wexford, Cllr Maura Bell, stated that; “In a post Brexit economy Wexford is an ideal location as a European hub for multi-national companies seeking a location that will attract talent with a great life style. Today we create a future for our young people by investing in the new urban quarter that will see the delivery of a major capital project in the beautiful setting of Wexford Harbour.”
Mr. Enright congratulated Glas Civil Engineering Ltd on being awarded the €2.5 million works contract. He commented that Glas Civil Engineering is a firm with a strong track record of delivering projects in Wexford including the South East Greenway, and “we are delighted to have them onboard.”
Phase 1 of the Trinity Wharf project is due to consist of:
- A new access road linking Trinity Street to the new railway level crossing at Trinity Wharf,
- Signalised junction at the Trinity Street junction
- New bus stops on Trinity Street
- Watermain upgrade from Parnell Street to Trinity Wharf
- Installation of deep services crossings under the railway line.
These works are expected to complete in Autumn 2023, with the next works contract to commence in 2024.
WexfordLocal.com 