New state of the art Penneys for Carlow

Penneys is set to anchor a new €70 million shopping centre in Carlow with hundreds of new jobs in the pipeline.

Carlow Central Shopping Centre will create at least 225 jobs during construction and, once completed, will provide employment for approximately 800 full and part-time jobs on site.

It will comprise around 200,000 sq. ft. of retail space, as well as 640 car spaces and a further 10,000 sq. ft. of office accommodation.

Penneys now operates from 37 locations in Ireland and has more than 325 stores in 11 countries.

The site of the new development incorporates the existing Penneys store together with additional adjoining lands on a site of 6.5 acres.

The newly redeveloped Penneys will trade from 51,000 sq. ft. of retail space over two levels and negotiations are at a very advanced stage with a number of other national and international retailers.

Eamonn Duignan of developers, Lexeme Properties Ltd commented, “This confirmation is the culmination of many years work by both Lexeme and Penneys, and ensures the delivery of Carlow Central”.

Gerry Butler, Sales Director, ROI, Primark said, “This announcement is an important milestone for us and one which we know is eagerly anticipated by the people of Carlow. "We are delighted that the expansion will generate additional jobs in the new store."

The agents for Carlow Central are Cushman & Wakefield (Karl Stewart) and HWBC (Tony Waters). Commenting on the latest announcement Karl Stewart, Head of Retail at joint agents Cushman & Wakefield said “I am delighted that following a difficult period in the retail market we are once again seeing the retail sector improving and today’s announcement represents an encouraging outlook for the sector”.

He further commented that he expected to follow shortly with further announcements in relation to the tenant line-up.