Extension works granted at Letterkenny pub after appeal rejected

A major extension has been given the go-ahead at The Central Bar in Letterkenny.

An Bord Pleanála rejected an appeal by a planning consultant in respect of the planned works.

Last April, Donegal County Council granted planning person for an expansion into a disused commercial premises next door.

Applicants Michael and Mark Blaney sought permission for the renovation and refurbishment of ground floor area of commercial premises to form a bar, lounge, kitchen, accessible toilet facilities, off licence area, external smoking area and all associated site works.

The premises next to the Central Bar was previously used as a betting shop.

The planning application provides for the demolition of a rear flat-roof area and works to the former betting office building fro for the erection of a new rear extension to the existing ground floor area of the same building.

There are plans to convert the entire ground floor area of the building, including the proposed new extension, into a new side extension of the existing Central Bar and Lounge to form new bar, lounge, kitchen and accessible toilet facilities.

An off licence area and an external smoking area are also included in the plans while connection to the main public sewer and all associated site works are provided for.

Mr Gerard Convie, a planning consultant, contested that while the proposal may meet some objectives of the Letterkenny Town Plan, the application “fails in some aspects” of “some of the other objectives”.

Mr Convie claimed that “the real intention” was for the premises to become a nightclub and said in a submission that more residential development was needed to tackle dereliction in Letterkenny.

“Is this the best use of the subject vacant property on the main street of our county’s major town as use for yet another licensed premises?” he wrote, pointed out that there were already eight licensed premises on the Main Street.

The planning body, having considered the application and the submission, ruled that the proposed development “is appropriate given the nature of the use proposed and the location of the site within the town centre”. 

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An Bord Pleanála said in its decision: “The proposed design and appearance of the buildings is considered to be appropriate.  The proposed development would not have a negative impact on the amenity of the surrounding area, nor will it result in a significant impact on the capacity of the surrounding road network.”