Rejected Galway business plans appealed
They wasted no time in appealing the decision
A major Galway business plan has been appealed just one month after it was rejected.
The appeal concerns the development of a casino at Wellpark Retail and Leisure on the Dublin Road.
At the end of June, the City Council refused the planning after several local objections over the new business.
The plans by Silverworth Limited that were put forward in April would see an existing unit at the retail park being transformed into a casino with changes made to the inside of the premises as well as signage for the business on the outside.
Concerns that were taken into consideration before the council’s decision were impact on traffic as well as the wellbeing of young people.
The council said the development would “detract from the overall visual appearance and architectural distinctiveness of the existing building [and] potentially detract from the primary retail use of the park”.
The planning report came back saying: “It is considered that it had not been satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposed change of existing retail unit at ground floor to casino is in keeping with the nature and character of the retail and leisure park.”
They added: “The introduction of this late nighttime activity would have a negative impact on the primary retail function of the centre and the surrounding established residential neighbourhood and would not comply with the specific development objective for these CI zoned lands at Wellpark, which stipulates that the Council will consider the full range of retail uses identified in the Retail Planning Guidelines within Wellpark Retail and Leisure Park.”
Appealing the decision, Silverworth LTD said that the development would represent an “appropriate and compatible form of commercial leisure development within the proper planning of the area”.
They appealed: “As demonstrated the proposed use is consistent with the Commercial/Industrial (CI) zoning objective of the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029, is compatible with the established mixed retail and leisure character of Wellpark Retail and Leisure Park, and would not give rise to any unacceptable impacts on the amenities of adjoining residential properties or the wider area.”
Silverworth also confirmed that they had submitted a revised exterior signage proposal also.