The new look for Tullamore town centre

Tullamore town centre is set to undergo a major transformation following the granting of planning permission for a new shopping complex on a prime site which has lain idle for more than a decade.

Local businessman Tony Flanagan, who heads up the company behind the project, Weavermay Ltd., said the development would “breathe new life” into a key part of the town centre which has been subject to dereliction for many years.

“Obviously we are very, very pleased to have secured permission for what is a fantastic site,” said Mr Flanagan, who added that he will be entering into negotiations with “relevant stakeholders” as soon as the planning process is complete.

The old ‘Texas’ site was purchased by Weavermay Ltd., and Cayenne Holdings in 2018.

It was later divided in half by agreement of both parties, who each have different plans for their respective sites.

Weavermay Ltd., has now been given the go-ahead by Offaly County Council to develop a 0.73 hectare portion of the site, and their ambitious plans include a 1,644 sq. m retail store (to include off licence use); a three-storey 874 sq m retail/office unit and a two storey 281 sq m café.

The project also makes provision for car and bicycle parking, a new pedestrian and cycle walkway between Offaly Street and O’ Connell Street, and pedestrian and cycle access to Offaly Street. The plans include temporary and permanent hard and soft landscaping on the site and boundary and enclosure walls and fences.

Tony Flanagan paid tribute to a number of people for the role they played in securing planning permission, including Offaly County Council, Deputy Barry Cowen and the local public representatives who supported the application.

“We believe this is an ideal opportunity to improve the retail offering in the town centre”, said Mr. Flanagan, who also expressed the hope that it would “stimulate investment” in what he described as “a key area of the town.”

News of the granting of planning permission for portion of the ‘Texas’ site was hailed by Deputy Barry Cowen as providing “a much-needed boost” for the town centre of Tullamore..

“This development now offers a great opportunity to kick start the regeneration of a town centre site that has remained derelict for the last 15 years” said Deputy Cowen, who added that the project, along with other recently announced investments in adjoining properties “will be a much-needed boost for all businesses in the town.”

Among the recently-announced investments in the vicinity of the old ‘Texas’ site are plans to re-develop the former Tullamore DEW building on Bury Quay. Earlier this year plans were unveiled for a café, gastropub and live music venue in the landmark protected structure which was acquired last year by a company called Emante Ltd., a partnership between Alan Clancy, a prominent figure in the entertainment and hospitality industry, and professional golfer Shane Lowry.

Tony Flanagan says the re-development of the Tullamore DEW building and the mixed-use commercial development planned for the old ‘Texas’ site would “complement each other” and would revitalise an area of Tullamore town centre which has been neglected for many years.

Back as far as 2008, a Navan-based businessman, Eamon Duignan, announced ambitious plans to build a huge shopping centre on the site of the former Texas department store and the former Tesco supermarket, with Penneys as the anchor tenant. However, those plans were abandoned when the economic crash happened.

It took another twelve years before another planning application would be submitted for the same site when Weavermay Ltd., applied to develop a portion of the Texas site in 2020. That application was subsequently withdrawn when Offaly County Council sought a detailed masterplan for the site which it described as “a prime opportunity site.”

Weavermay Ltd., lodged a new planning application on July 7 last year, which included a detailed masterplan for the site. The developers stated that the site had the potential for the formation of a new urban quarter in Tullamore, and expressed the hope that the inclusion of an attractive public space as part of the plans would reinvigorate the area, and would be a catalyst for further development in the town centre area.