University hits the brakes on planned underground car park

Plans for an underground car park housing 134 vehicles within a new research block at the University have been shelved and the space will instead be used for laboratories. The change of plans came about at a very late stage, when a development permit had already been issued for the construction of a four-storey block overlying four underground levels accommodating library archives, storage and three car parking levels. The design also incorporated a pedestrian landscaped plaza at ground level. Following the granting of the permit last March, excavation works started immediately on this site adjacent to the library. Prior to the start of excavation this open space was a parking facility for about 60 cars. However, some weeks ago work ground to a halt leaving a four-storey deep gaping hole in the middle, which is fast turning into an eyesore. Students who spoke to this newspaper questioned why this much-needed project which would have somewhat eased the acute parking problem had been put on the back burner. A University spokeswoman said that the €10 million project is now earmarked for completion in 2019. However, she pointed out that following a “change in the scope of the...