George’s Court Shopping Centre has submitted a major planning application to Waterford City and County Council, outlining sweeping internal changes to the historic city-centre complex.

The plans would remove the existing mall corridor linking Great George’s Street and Barronstrand Street, replacing it with expanded retail units and a redesigned layout.

Boots Expansion Central to Plans

The proposal would significantly expand Boots Pharmacy, creating one of the largest Boots stores in the country. The expansion would increase overall commercial floor space by 340 square metres.

Boots would absorb several existing internal units on the ground floor. Part of the current Boots space would change to café use, likely for Carter’s Café.

The plans would also retain and protect the historic Boots façade on Barronstrand Street, which appears on the council’s Record of Protected Structures.

Reduced Ground Floor Retail Mix

Under the new layout, the ground floor would contain just three retailers:

Phelan’s Shoes

Pamela Scott

Boots Pharmacy

Phelan’s Shoes would expand into the current George’s Street entrance area.

The proposals do not include the Stable Yard food market or the Italian bakery.

Changes Across Upper Floors

The second floor would remain the main mall level, housing businesses such as Full of Beans, Banshee Tattoo Studio, and The Salon hairdressers.

The plans also include a major expansion of No.9 Café, with additional seating proposed for Carter’s Café in its current location.

On the third floor, the development would provide storage, staff facilities, and administrative space. The plans also include four small commercial units, though no tenants have yet been confirmed.

Protected Structures and Decision Date

Two external façades included in the application hold protected structure status, limiting external alterations while allowing internal redevelopment.

George’s Court first opened in December 1981, shortly before the pedestrianisation of George’s Street. Kathleen Fitzgerald and her husband Liam opened the centre, which originally housed 13 shops.

Waterford City and County Council expects to issue a decision on the application by February 21, according to the planning website.

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