BRL Ultimatum to NAMA on Ballymun Shopping Centre Welcomed

One of the most common issues fellow residents in Ballymun mention to me is getting a new shopping centre for the area. A successful regeneration project requires a commercial heart to complement the residential and social aspects under way.

Current Ballymun Shopping Centre 

It is clear that following years of delays, action 
needs to be taken to develop the Ballymun Shopping Centre and I welcome the ultimatum letter this week from Ballymun Regeneration to NAMA to this effect. 

A new shopping centre on Ballymun Main Street is a key objective of the regeneration project. This centre is to be the commercial heart of the town, serving residents’ needs and creating much needed jobs.

Unfortunately, the plans for the site have stalled and the shopping centre site is now in NAMA. Since being elected, I have been in constant contact with NAMA and BRL in relation to this site and had met with the previous owners, Treasury Holdings, to get the ball rolling again on this project.

Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL), the body tasked with the regeneration project, have now asked NAMA to act as quickly and decisively as possible in developing a clear development strategy for the lands’. BRL also said that if detailed proposals are not announced in the next 30 days, they will look at their own options for town centre development on alternative sites on the Main Street.

Original Plan for new Ballymun Shopping Centre

BRL have said any alternative development would be in line with the regeneration Masterplan and the Main Street Strategy – which were developed in consultation with the local community.

As a resident of Ballymun myself, I know how much local people want to see the shopping centre developed. With this letter, BRL have upped the ante and it reflects the urgent need to take action to give Ballymun the town centre it needs. I look forward to seeing the response from NAMA to this letter and speedy action on foot of it.

Please contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie if I can discuss any aspects of this post