Boston Scientific is seeking planning approval for two new large car parks in their Ballybrit campus.
The medical devices manufacturer has submitted plans to the city council for two new car parks with a total of 550 parking spaces, in order to allow for the redistribution of staff.
The two car parks will also have 5 percent of spaces fitted with EV chargers, and infrastructure in place to add chargers to another 5 percent.
Boston Scientific currently employs approximately 4,500 people in its Galway City campus, as well as indirectly supporting roughly 500 contractors.
The major multinational employer has expanded its operations in Galway significantly in recent years, starting in 2017 with its second building.
The most recent addition was a 3,700sqm cleanroom in Building 2, and further construction is underway on a new R&D facility.
A planning report for this application states that their current parking arrangements are centred around Building 1, which leaves many employees walking some distance from their cars to work.
Since 2010 Boston Scientific has leased 300 parking spaces on land adjacent to their campus, but planning permission was granted in 2019 for development on that land, which will result in those spaces being lost.
The planning development will also include new bicycle and motorbike shelters, a new boundary fence on the north and south east side of the campus, with a pedestrian access gate at An Pháirc Mhór.
The planning application states that this will be kept open during the day to allow local access, and secured with a code or key fob at night, which can be made available to locals who request access.
A landscape plan has also been submitted with this planning application to demonstrate measures which will be taken to minimise the visual impact of the car parks.
A decision on this planning application is due from Galway City Council by February 22, 2024.
