Waterford City and County Council has won the Placemaking and Planning Award at the KPMG Irish Independent Property Industry Excellence Awards 2026 for its transformative South Quays Plaza project.

Now in their eleventh year, the awards are widely regarded as the premier accolades of Ireland's property sector, endorsed by leading professional institutes and representative bodies. They recognise organisations, projects and individuals shaping the country's built environment.

South Quays Plaza is the first completed and publicly accessible element of the ambitious North Quays Regeneration initiative, creating a major new amenity that brings added vibrancy to Waterford's South Quays.

Set along a riverside stretch once hailed as Europe's noblest quay, the new plaza acts as a gateway between the historic city centre and the rapidly developing North Quays regeneration area.

Its opening reclaims the most central and prominent section of the South Quays, delivering a landscaped, accessible and high-quality public space in the heart of the city for residents and visitors alike. The plaza is also integral to future connectivity plans, set to link the Waterford Greenway via a sustainable transport bridge to the South East Greenway from Dungarvan to New Ross. The new 207-metre bridge is due to open in late 2027, strengthening connections across the River Suir.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Liam Brazil, congratulated the Council's project team on securing the win: "This award is a tremendous recognition of the vision and hard work that has gone into delivering the South Quays Plaza. While the project has created an exceptional public space in the heart of Waterford, it has also successfully regenerated and revitalised an important part of our city.

"The plaza provides a welcoming and accessible environment for residents and visitors while also strengthening links between the city centre and the transformative North Quays development. It is a prime example of how thoughtful planning and placemaking can enhance connectivity, improve quality of life and help shape a more vibrant and sustainable future for Waterford."

The North Quays is a flagship urban regeneration project delivering one of the largest ever investments in the city and region, supported by the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund (formerly URDF), the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Department of Transport.