Weirside site could go under hammer

The Weirside site off Corporation Street, which was intended to be the site of a key development dubbed the “deck of cards” is expected to be place on the open market after the unsettled financial climate saw the ambitious scheme shelved.

Councillors were told at a meeting on Monday that the land, which was previously the location of an abattoir but is currently used as a surface pay and display car park., should be put out to open tender.

Just over a year ago, the council decided that the site should be turn into an attractive riverside public area with car parking underneath as part of the Westgate Demonstrator Project (WDP)—but the scheme was put on the back burner when the recession hit.

Project officer Karen Gallagher explained in a report to councillors this week: “It was resolved to approve capital funding to develop and construct under croft parking within the void beneath public realm works proposed on the site.

“The public realm proposal was referred to as the ‘deck of cards’.

“Due to the current economic climate, the property market collapse and the lack of user demand, the ability to deliver and dispose of this type of development has been hindered.

“As a result both, the Council and developers Iliad have acknowledged that the site is an ‘Abortive Site’ under the WDP Development Agreement and the development proposals are not viable.

“Consequently, Iliad has surrendered all rights and responsibilities in connection with the site and the council is now free to deal with or develop the site as it sees fit.

In order to re-stimulate development interest in this area of the town centre and maintain the momentum of the successful Westgate Demonstrator Project, developments at Imperial Building, Old Market and Keppel Wharf it  is proposed to ‘test’ the current market and assess any interest in the future development of this site.”

Councillors were presented with four options, with the second—selling the land with restrictions on what could be built there—recommended.