Appeal lodged against Bunbeg Bank of Ireland conversion to hardware shop

An appeal has been lodged to An Coimisiún Pleanála to overturn Donegal County Council’s decision to grant conditional retention permission for the change of use of a former Bank of Ireland bank to a hardware shop in Bunbeg.

Included in the planning proposals, which Donegal County Council conditionally granted in October, was the erection of a commercial storage shed, a perimeter fence, and all other associated site works. 

The former Bank of Ireland building in Bunbeg was one of five premises within Donegal that the Bank of Ireland closed permanently in 2021. 

In July 2025, Michael Friel of Michael Friel Architects & Surveyors Ltd, on behalf of the applicant, Shane McGee, wrote: “The applicant operates a hardware business in Falcarragh and has had a base in Gweedore for a number of years at a peripheral location within the community.

“The applicant is now using this building and proposed new storage shed as a satellite of his main business, whereby he has a small shop, within the old Bank Building and uses the storage for small items and the storage of a forklift.”

Later in his rationale, Friel stated: “The applicant has opened and is operating a Hardware store which has been operating very well for a number of months. He has also added a shed to add to his internal storage area and a perimeter fence so as to allow him to store bulky goods in a tidy manner within reach of the shop.”

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Friel further placed an argument on the need to prevent dereliction in West Donegal, commenting: “Many buildings and businesses in West Donegal have become derelict or unused over time and an application which seeks to reinvigorate a building which has been closed for a period must be supported so that encouragement is given to other potential persons to reopen similar buildings and breathe much needed new life into areas in West Donegal.”

However, in an appeal lodged to An Coimisiún Pleanála, the appellant alleges that there was a “blatant current attempt by the owner to circumvent planning regulations.”

The appellant alleged: “It is important to note that the owner of this commercial site has been operating a Hardware and Solid Fuel store from this commercial site since September 30, 2024, without any planning permission whatsoever.

“It is my view that the development works carried out on the site have been extremely insensitive and not at all in keeping with the surrounding area or buildings.

“The existing Bank of Ireland building is clearly a concrete block structure, and the owner has proceeded to erect an intrusive perimeter fence and commercial storage facility using industrial materials. 

“The materials used for development work would be more in keeping with the local industrial estate and are not at all appropriate for a commercial site on the main road running through the Gweedore Gaeltacht. 

“The development constitutes a significant eyesore in my view, and the owner has shown little regard for impact on the surrounding area.”

In conclusion, the appellant said: “I would like to reiterate that I do not object to recommissioning/development of the commercial site in question. In fact, I would welcome this.

“However, I do object in the strongest possible terms to the specific retention planning application referenced above.”