- An Bord Pleanála has approved the Galway Harbour redevelopment project.
- The plan has involved reclamation of 27 hectares for quays, docking and a marina.
- Permission has included a nautical centre and rail link to the Dublin–Galway line.
- The decision has come after the application lodged on 10 January 2014.
- 16 conditions have applied including completion within 10 years.
An Bord Pleanála has granted approval for the redevelopment of Galway Harbour. The planning authority has cleared the project after more than 12 years of delays. Galway Harbour Company has received permission to proceed with land reclamation and related works.
The development has included approximately 27 hectares of reclaimed land for commercial quays, deep-water docking facilities and a marina. Plans have incorporated harbour-related buildings, a nautical centre and a proposed rail link to the Dublin–Galway railway line. The application process has run since 10 January 2014 with nearly 20 meetings held between 2015 and 2026.
The Board has imposed 16 conditions on the permission including completion within 10 years. Dredging on the western side of the harbour has received restriction to ebb tide periods to protect habitats in Lough Atalia. Environmental effects have received management through proposed mitigation measures under the EU Habitats Directive.
Conor O’Dowd shared “It will happen in stages but it’s really exciting.”
