BRUSSELS: Kennedy Wilson Europe Real Estate plc (KWE) has submitted a planning application for what it says will be a significant refurbishment of Stillorgan Village shopping centre in Co Dublin.
The shopping centre was Ireland’s first when it opened in 1966. It now has 54 shops and more than 145,000 sq ft of retail space. Its anchor tenants are Tesco and Dunnes Stores.
Kennedy Wilson bought the centre last year as part of the Opera portfolio.
The refurbishment plans include a glazed canopy to cover the whole scheme and to replace the existing street-level canopy system. The company described the existing system as dated and said it does not fully protect shoppers from the elements.
The project would also involve an upgrade to the building façade to improve its visual appearance. Plans for improvements to the car park – which currently has 550 spaces – have also been submitted.
Stillorgan Village is Ireland’s first shopping centre and will be 50 years old in 2016,” said Peter Collins, chief operating officer of Kennedy Wilson Europe and head of its Irish business. “The centre has an extremely loyal retailer and shopper base, as evidenced by its No 1 ranking in the recently published Retail Excellence Ireland Shopping Centre survey, yet it has had no major upgrades in its history.
“We are excited about the significant improvements to the customer experience that this proposal would deliver, while ensuring that the unique Stillorgan Village atmosphere is retained. We are working with our retailers, local residents groups and local elected representatives to ensure that should the project be approved, we will deliver a sympathetic and much-needed refurbishment that the residents of the local area will value.”
