Planning precedent report

Change of use 506sq.m of first floor from office to medical use; 3 ventilation grills at first floor on west elevation and one ventilation grill at first floor on south elevation.

Located on a section of Belgard Square South. The development includes the closure of the slip road from Belgard Square South onto the N81. This development is proposed to accommodate the increase in the volume of buses in the area as a result of the changes proposed under BusConnects. The volume of buses is set to increase from 22 to 49 buses per hour. It forms part of Government efforts to improve public transport and address climate change nationally, supporting national strategies such as the National Development Plan 2021 - 2030 and the Climate Action Plan 2023. The layover facility will be comprised of bus parking for 10 buses and welfare facilities for drivers. The development consists of two separate parking areas with 7 bus bays in the south layover and 3 in the layby to the north of Belgard Square South. There will be one entrance point into the layover area located on the southern side of Belgard Square South. This layover area will have 2 egress points with a right turn ban in place. There will be a layby located on the northern side of Belgard Square South, across from the layover area. The layover area includes a bus driver welfare facility comprising of two toilet units. The proposed Development includes the closure of the hard shoulder on the northern side of the N81 to accommodate the realignment of the cycle track along the N81. The proposed development includes all the associated works to facilitate the bus layover and welfare facility. This includes drainage works, utility diversions, public lighting, fencing and landscaping. The overall area of the site is approximately 0.7 ha.

Demolition of existing commercial building (736sq.m) and construction of a single storey cafe/restaurant (79sq.m); single storey bicycle workshop building (32sq.m); improved public realm area to include seating; bicycle parking (60 spaces) and hard and soft landscaping and all associated site and development works.

The proposed development will consist of amalgamation (including removal of internal mezzanine areas) and change of use of Units U133ABC (former An Post) and U133D (former Bodytalk) from Post Office and Retail Use respectively (both Class 1 “shops”) to accommodate a restaurant/ takeaway unit (243sqm) for consumption of hot food on and off the premises, modifications to existing shopfront signage, new tenant sign on eastern elevation and all associated site and development works

The temporary use (for the next 5 years 2025-2029 inclusive) of part of the eastern carpark lands for the erection of a temporary tent structure for use as an ice rink for a period not exceeding 3 months per year (November - January) and all associated site and development works including plant, lighting, ancillary signage and with pedestrian routes to the shopping centre and associated car parks. The proposal will result in the loss of c.48 spaces for the duration of the temporary ice rink use.

Change of use of the fifth floor level from office to hotel use to provide for 26 hotel suites; Associated modifications to the layout and elevations at fifth floor level and to the stair cores at ground to fifth floor levels to facilitate access and egress; Introduction of lobbies to the stair cores at basement level; Provision of a green roof to the existing building on site; Revisions to the existing car and bicycle parking arrangements at basement level; All associated site development works.