Cork pub Dwyers refused planning permission for permanent outdoor seating area

Dwyers of Cork on Washington Street had applied for permission for the outdoor area along with an extension of the hours it could operate to align with its publican’s licence. File picture: Denis Minihane
A popular Cork City pub has been refused planning permission for a permanent outdoor seating area, along with screens, heaters and awnings.
Dwyers of Cork on Washington Street had applied for permission for the outdoor area along with an extension of the hours it could operate to align with its publican’s licence.
First granted permission coming out of the covid-19 pandemic, a condition had been imposed by Cork City Council that Dwyers would have to re-apply for permission for its outdoor area after three years.
However, planners at City Hall said the development forms an “obtrusive structure that has a negative visual impact” on the building, which is a protected structure, and the area.
Along with many other Cork City venues, Dwyers sought to install outdoor areas during the pandemic but their popularity has remained in the years that followed.
“The outdoor area is actively managed and supervised, ensuring that it remains a safe and regulated space,” planning documents filed on behalf of the applicant said.
“Its removal would likely result in a return of unmanaged public use, loitering, smoking and vaping in the area, an outcome which would be detrimental to both public amenity and order, and contrary to the initial rationale for pedestrianisation.”

These documents noted the venue invested €100,000 on its outdoor facilities. This was made “in good faith and with the clear understanding that the development was not only acceptable, but welcomed and aligned with council objectives”, it said.
“This facility has been in place for a number of years without issue, is considered to represent best practice in this regard, and has enabled members of the public to enjoy both the premises itself and the pedestrianised Little Cross Street through a well-constructed and sensitively designed outdoor dining environment,” it said.
However, a Cork City Council planning inspector visited the site and hit out at the “haphazard and temporary” structure for outdoor dining in their report.
In agreeing with their inspector, City Hall refused to grant permission for the outdoor area while granting permission for the extended hours of operation.
A collection of the latest business articles and business analysis from Cork.