Construction of apartments on North Quays in Waterford to begin next year

The construction of apartment blocks on the North Quays in Waterford city is set to begin next year.

Waterford City and County Council has issued an update on the North Quays project, including on the delivery of the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) development.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Harcourt Developments is in consultation with the Land Development Agency on the roll out of the residential development elements of the approved Phase 1 of the SDZ development.

“Upon the close out of this process, it is anticipated that works will commence on site within the first half of 2026.

“The integration works with the transport hub, sustainable transport bridge, Abbey Road and Dock Road will be fast-tracked to facilitate the earliest possible opening of the transport hub and bridge in 2027.”

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The mixed-use development will include significant residential accommodation, as well as office and hotel accommodation, retail offerings and public realm spaces.

In total, 350 residential units will be constructed in the first phase of the development.

A 160-bedroom hotel and 163-room aparthotel also form part of the proposed residential offering, bringing the total number of residential blocks to eight.

Furthermore, there will be a number of retail units on the ground floor of these residential blocks.

The council also provided updates on the new sustainable transport bridge, the Transport Hub and surrounding areas.

The sustainable transport bridge was installed in June, but is not expected to open to the public until 2027.

The bridge spans are now fixed in position and connected to the permanent supporting concrete piers.

The bridge’s temporary steel supports are expected to be removed from the river in the near future, allowing for permanent pier protection systems to be completed.

The final commissioning of the mechanical and electrical systems for the opening bascule spans is also ongoing.

In the meantime, the bridge is being opened and closed as required for river traffic.

Finishing works on the bridge have also commenced with the installation of the edge railings and glass panels completed.

The remaining finishing works will commence in the coming weeks, including the surfacing, lighting, barriers, street furniture etc.

The South Quays Plaza is described as “well-advanced”, with a council spokesperson saying it will “provide a high quality landscaped public realm area with seating, lighting, green area and bicycle facilities”.

A glass flood defence barrier is currently being installed along the river, and the plaza works are expected to be complete in January 2026.

At that point, final snagging checks and safety audits will be completed in advance of any opening to the public.

Public access from the South Plaza to the sustainable transport bridge will be closed off and secured until the bridge opens to the public.

On the North Quays themselves, all scaffolding has been removed from the north and south side of the new Transport Hub.

Works are continuing on the northern entrance, internal fitout and works are due to commence on the southern entrance in early 2026.

The Transport Hub by its nature requires significant mechanical and electrical works and these fixes will also be completed in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the installation of street furniture and landscaping has commenced on Abbey Road and the public lighting is being commissioned.

The completion of the greenway ramp at Abbey Road could enable the opening of the 6km section of greenway from Abbey Road to Curraghmore by Wexford & Kilkenny County
Councils.

Timing will be subject to completion of safety audits, defects check, certification, etc. and the
implementation of all outstanding items will continue in consultation with the two local authorities.

Works are also continuing on the railway flood defence scheme. The eastern flood defence works are complete, while the eastern trackside drainage and western flood defence works are both progressing on site and due for completion in 2026.

The western trackside drainage works will be tendered by Iarnród Éireann shortly, while details are being finalised for the central flood defence works at Plunkett Station and the flood defence pump stations.

Both of these are anticipated to commence on site in early 2026.

The central flood defence works require the construction of underground trenches, flood walls and demountable barriers within the Plunkett Station car parks, entrance and set-down areas as well as significant diversion of underground services within these areas.

The project team is currently liaising with Iarnród Éireann on the logistics for these works and the best means of reducing impacts on rail commuters.