The council plans to develop the surface parking area into a multi-storey car park and to also include a mix of residential and retail units and possibly a hotel on the 0.55 acre site in the Johnstown/ Poleberry area of the city.

The plan is to alleviate traffic congestion in the city by improving parking facilities at the council-owned site known as Miller's Marsh. In conjunction with this the council hopes to avail of the opportunity to provide strategically-located new residential, retail and possibly leisure accommodation.

The council has placed advertisements in the media inviting "suitably experienced developers" to submit proposals for the development of the key site. Any plan endorsed by the council is expected to include the retention of the existing rights of way to private properties in John Street which backs onto the site.

"Miller's Marsh is right behind the old houses that stretch the length of John Street, " says Labour city councillor Seamus Ryan. "It's important that whatever development gets the goahead, it doesn't tower over the residential area.

"The concerns of local residents will have to be taken into account. The site is already used as a low-cost car park and it's important to maintain that facility for people who work in the city centre. Waterford city attracts shoppers from Wexford, Kilkenny, Clonmel and Dungarvan. If we want to ensure that remains the situation we need to provide adequate parking in and around the retail areas."

Meanwhile KRM Construction Partnership, the company behind the proposed 280m mixed-use Brewery retail development planned for the New Street area of the city, has been requested by the council to submit additional information on its plan for the 5.1 acre site. "This type of request is not uncommon with substantial planning applications of this nature and we will now work with our professional team to respond comprehensively to Waterford city council within the permitted timeframe, " a spokesman for the consortium says.

The company is expected to furnish the additional information in early April and a final decision on the proposed scheme is expected in May.

The development will feature 60 shops including three anchor units; a 150-bed fourstar hotel with a conference centre and leisure facilities; arts/cultural facilities and underground parking for over 500 vehicles.

The proposed development has been opposed by Waterford Alliance for Sustainable Inner City Development. The voluntary group has expressed concerns about the scale of the development and the perceived negative impact of the scheme on the lives of residents.

Letting agent Bannon Commercial and Purcell Properties are in discussions with a large number of Irish and overseas retailers. "Obviously we can't give any specific details until a final decision for the centre is arrived at but the council seems favourably disposed to it so we're very positive about the future, " says Des Purcell.