Taoiseach Bertie Aherne visited the site of the Bridgewater Centre in Arklow yesterday (Friday 8th September) where he viewed plans for the €130m shopping centre.

When completed, the centre will generate 750 jobs. 400 workers are employed in the short term currently during the construction phase and this will rise to 1,500 in the fit out phase. Work began in 2005 and it is expected to be complete in the second half of 2007.

Wecoming the development the Taoiseach said “This development, at a cost of €130 million, represents the latest example of the real transformation taking place in cities and towns throughout the country. In particular, the creation of 750 new jobs in the centre once it is up and running is a most welcome development. The benefits which will accrue to not only Arklow but the wider region as a result of this development are very significant and I am delighted to welcome an investment of this magnitude to Wicklow.

Arklow is a key link in the eastern corridor which forms part of the Euro-Route 1, linking Belfast with Dublin and the Rosslare Europort. The town is designated under the Regional Planning Guidelines as a “Large Growth Town II” which has considerable potential for development of established and new employment sectors supported by its growing population.
The adoption in March 2005 of the Arklow Environs Local Area Plan 2005-2011 outlines the strategy for ensuring that sufficient lands are zoned for a variety of uses: residential, employment, social, community and town centre, to sustain the anticipated population growth in the area over the next 6 years. The development of the Bridgewater Centre is a flagship project which can help to drive future expansion of Arklow in a sustainable manner and make it a distinctive and desirable place in which to live and work.”