Council blocks plans for 'super betting office' on Cork City street

The council inspector's report said that allowing these proposals to go ahead 'could set a highly undesirable precedence within the city centre'. Picture: Denis Minihane

Ambitious plans to revamp a row of city centre buildings have been turned down by Cork City Council as planners had “very serious concerns” the proposals would create a "super betting office” on the street.

Holren Properties Limited had lodged a planning application in June to City Hall seeking permission for the works on Castle Street and South Main Street.

The project proposed the change of use of the ground floor of numbers 11 and 12 Castle Street from retail use for use as a betting shop.

There was also a plan to demolish the ground floor internal walls between 10, 11, 12, and 13 Castle Street, and proposals to change signage on the building.

The first and second floors of 9a to 13 Castle Street, and 1 to 7 South Main Street were also all to be converted into homes. These would have comprised six one-bed apartments, one studio apartment, and three apartments with a mezzanine.

However, the proposals were turned down by Cork City Council.

A report from one of its planning inspectors noted no change of use permission had been sought for the former retail unit at number 10, but it would have been amalgamated with 11 and 12.

“The Planning Authority has very serious concerns that the amalgamation of what will result in four former separate retail frontage units into one super betting office as this will significantly adversely affect the vitality and viability of the streetscape and visually adversely affect the existing streetscape due to the loss of active street frontage,” the inspector said.

The report added that allowing these proposals to go ahead “could set a highly undesirable precedence within the city centre”.

It added that the development site is a designated protected structure with an important and long history in Cork City.

“While there may be scope for some apartments on the upper floor of the corner sections on the first and 2nd floors of the “Catholic Young Men’s Society” building; the change of use of the vast halls to residential will constitute a significant loss of historic social and community use. I note An Taisce also raises these concerns,” the inspector’s report said.

Following its inspector’s recommendation, Cork City Council refused permission for the development. It said the proposed development would “injure the vitality and viability of the city Centre” through loss of historic shopfronts.