Florentine delayed

February 1998

PLANS for a new multi-million pound Bray town centre shopping mall are to be delayed for at least another year.

That’s in spite of a decision by An Bord Pleanala to approve the controversial Florentine Centre, which had been the subject of a lengthy appeal by objecting local residents.

Rather than proceed with the scheme, developers Ballymore Properties announced that it was now likely they would lodge a new planning application with Bray Urban District Council in respect of the site on the existing Florence Road car park.

A statement from the company said that the new application would incorporate a number of properties adjoining the site which they had acquired since their original application went to the planning appeals board.

Ballymore Properties said their new application would also encompass alterations set out in 16 conditions imposed by Bord Pleanala as part of its decision to uphold the planning permission for the development originally granted by Bray UDC last August.

The company predicted that the finished shopping centre and multi-storey car paring development would comprise of 100,000 square feet of retailing space and approximately 500 parking spaces.

The developer’s decision means that the Florentine Centre will now be delayed for at least another year, to allow time for the processing of a completely fresh application to Bray UDC and any objections and/or appeals which might ensue.