Plans to revamp former Catholic Young Men's Society in Cork City rejected

The proposed development focused on the former Catholic Young Men's Society building on South Main Street and included refurbishing two other buildings.

The works would have involved the change of use of a ground-floor retail shop to a betting shop, the demolition of the internal walls between 10, 11, 12, and 13 Castle Street, the addition of new projecting and fascia signage, and the removal of old ones.

The first and second floors of all the buildings were proposed to be converted from storage to residential use, and six one-bedroom apartments were also proposed for construction.

However, following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, it upheld the council’s refusal, ruling that the amalgamation of four former individual retail units to an enlarged betting office would “seriously injure the vitality and visibility of the city centre by virtue of the loss of historic shopfronts.” 

It also added that the development could result in a significant negative impact on the character and architectural integrity of Castle Street.

Meanwhile, Boyle Sports has been given the green light to expand its premises in Mayfield.

Cork City Council granted conditional permission to the betting company for a change of use and amalgamation of two units from retail to a betting office at 15B Old Youghal Road in Mayfield, which will include internal and elevational alterations, signage and ancillary site development works.

The development will also include the change of use of the ground floor of the existing building from a betting office to retail use at 11 Old Youghal Road, which will include the removal of existing signage and ancillary site development works.

Both sites will be accessed from the existing accesses on Old Youghal Road.