Wexford County Council has launched proposals to work with private investors and developers to deliver a mixed-use urban quarter at Trinity Wharf in Wexford Harbour.

The local authority has set out a preliminary market consultation process for the planned €150M project, which includes office blocks and apartments in addition to a four-star hotel, a multifunctional conference and cultural centre, a marina, and a public plaza.

The Council has committed to delivering the infrastructure, enabling works and initial site preparation for the project including the marina, but is not looking to own or operate the commercial assets and is instead seeking private sector involvement.

The 14-acre Trinity Wharf site is located on the waterfront between Wexford Harbour and Wexford town centre, and a master plan was designed with architect Scott Tallon Walker after it was acquired by the council. Planning permission was received in 2020.

Development and investment proposals include a 107K SF, 120-bed hotel over seven floors; a 32K SF conference and cultural centre over two floors; a 73K SF apartment block with 58 apartments over six floors; a 16K SF restaurant arranged over three floors plus three office blocks of six floors each, ranging from 54K SF to 66K SF.

A total of €20M has already been allocated to the project under the Urban Regeneration Fund, with another €7M ring-fenced by Wexford County Council, which stressed that it is open to exploring various commercial structures with investors or developers interested in delivering the commercial assets for the project.

It is also prepared to support any “reasonable or required” revisions to the current planning permission for the commercial assets.

Wexford County Council chief executive Eddie Taaffe described the scheme as a “unique opportunity” for private sector participation in a “transformative town centre development”.

“We have developed a masterplan and obtained full planning permission for a first-class mixed-use urban quarter with sustainability at its core and we believe it will prove to be major addition to Wexford for employers, retailers and the local community in addition to tourists and visitors,” he said in a launch statement. “We are looking forward to engaging with developers and investors on the unrivalled development and commercial opportunities.”