Plans have been unveiled for a multi-million euro Transport Hub on Waterford's North Quays.

The proposals, now on public display, involve building a new train station to replace the existing Plunkett Station. They also include a new bus set down area and short-term parking facilities.

This project forms part of a major redevelopment of the eight hectare North Quays site into a modern mixed use space with a hotel, offices, apartments and 50,000 square metres of retail, hospitality and entertainment offerings. Developer Falcon Real Estate is expected to submit a planning application for the site shortly.

The new station will be one of Ireland's most modern transport hubs, linking the city's rail and bus services and dramatically improving access from north to south. It will be transformative for those living and working in Waterford — connecting with the Greenway, the proposed sustainable transport bridge and an enhanced road network.

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Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive, Michael Walsh added: "The ground-breaking Falcon Real Estate Development Ireland scheme, together with the Transport Hub and the Sustainable Transport Bridge, will transform Waterford into a modern city quarter. The North Quays' offices and accommodation will provide for a range of enterprises and up to 1,500 jobs primarily targeted at Foreign Direct Investment. In total, 2,300 jobs will be generated by the development and a further 1,000 in strategic industrial lands.These additional jobs alone will generate consumer spend in excess of €50m per annum and lead to an estimated annual footfall of 2,500,000.

"We are a city undergoing huge transition, with 5,000 additional jobs expected by 2025 and Waterford's tourism numbers to double by 2025 to one million. The North Quays, the development of Mount Congreve as a world class visitor experience and the Government’s recent €2.65 million investment in the Waterford Greenway and €5 million in Waterford Airport, firmly places Waterford as the gateway city of the south east. Waterford is driving forward with the delivery of a forward-looking urban centre that will make it the most cost competitive regional city in Ireland, accelerating regional growth over the long term, and supporting a stronger national economy."

(CM/MH)