SETU Engineering building commencement notice published with Waterford Council
The site for the SETU engineering building. Photo: Joe Evans
A commencement notice for works to the much-anticipated SETU engineering building was posted last week.
The notice outlined that commencement works for construction had commenced or were due to commence last Thursday, May 15.
The addition of the building to the SETU campus in Waterford has long been in the balance and for years the penned site on the Cork Road has been vacant and overgrown.
Plans for the development of the much-needed engineering building go back as far as 2007. In 2009 the development was progressed with outline planning permission granted. However, the project was cancelled in 2011.
A previously granted planning application for the building from 2019 expired on December 17 of last year and no building works ever commenced.
Planning reports state that "major black swan events" have led to multiple disruptions to the development, including the economic downturn in the late 2000s and the Covid-19 pandemic.
A new planning application, which was submitted on September 3, 2024, was almost identical to the application from 2019, apart from containing an additional 66 cycle spaces.
This application was granted permission in October of last year, and has now reached its commencement date.
Deputy John Cummins confirmed in December 2024 that cabinet approval for the building had been received for the development.
He said at the time that he looked forward to contracts being signed and construction commencing in Q1 of this year.
The commencement notice for this application has now been published by BAM, developers for the project.
The development consists of the construction of a third-level educational building, comprising of engineering, computing and general teaching facilities of a floor area of 12,894 square metres.
The application site is located within the SETU Waterford Campus, which is generally bounded by Paddy Browne's Road on the west and the Cork Road to the south.
The building consists of a five-storey over lower ground floor building, together with roof-top plant and architectural screening.
Internally the building will incorporate a central atrium and provide general teaching spaces, including lecture theatres, laboratories, workshops, studio spaces and administration.
The application also includes for two new disabled access parking bays, 360 cycle spaces, and the removal of an existing campus service road.
In addition are the creation of soft landscaping and footpath connections to the existing campus landscaping, a hard landscaped entrance area, seating and lighting stands.
The application includes for all site signage, utility connections and ancillary site works associated with the project.
A report accompanying the application emphasised the importance of the building to Waterford and the further south east region, stating: "The new building will provide a significant addition to the SETU Waterford campus infrastructure.
"It improves the facilities offered by a number of school faculties and will enhance the student experience.
"In addition, the proposed development will further enhance the City of Waterford’s reputation as a centre for educational excellence both nationally and internationally, bringing both economic and social benefit to the wider community and City of Waterford."
