Mallow Central Hotel decision delayed
THE long-running saga over the future of the former Mallow Park Hotel looks set to drag on well into the New Year after Cork County Council issued a request for additional information on a proposal to redevelop the landmark structure.
In late July The Corkman revealed that an application had been lodged in the name of Mallow Capital Ltd seeking permission to develop the building, which has lain idle since the hotel closed its doors overnight in 2007.
This was the same company that in 2016 was refused permission for a major plan of works at the Thomas Davis Street site.
The new plan made provision for a change of use of the ground floor of the protected structure into retail/cafe development, a retail unit to the rear of the site and a proposal to convert the upper two floors to residential use.
Much speculation has surrounded the future of the hotel building, which rapidly fell into disrepair, becoming a notorious eyesore, with two fires in the space of six months in 2011 causing extensive damage to the premises,. It was subsequently placed on the derelict sites register.
The latest application was given a broad welcome locally, in particular by members of the local business community, who lodged a number generically worded observations with council planners in support of the application.
‘As a business in Mallow we are supportive of the development of this very important and historic site within the town centre and the increased employment and economic activity it will bring,’ read the observations.
Describing the site as an eyesore and a safety hazard, the observations said that bringing it back into active use would be a huge planning gain for the town.
Broadly welcoming the retail unit to the rear of the site, the observations said the trend to build stores on the periphery of many county towns was ruining existing business by enticing people away from town centres.
They said the proposed development would bring increased footfall and activity to the town centre and could also attract other developments giving the overall impression that Mallow is a town that is ‘open for business’.
‘We feel it will be a positive addition to the town of Mallow’s offering and encourage Cook County Council to grant planning permission,’ concluded the submissions.
However, it has now emerged that council planners have pushed back a decision on the project indefinitely, deeming that the information contained within the application was “not yet sufficient” to enable them to make a definitive ruling on the case.
Planners have requested more information under 17 separate headings dealing with issues including clarity regarding the area of the overall site, details of the opening hours of the planned new units, traffic management around the site and the provision of a detailed design for the planned road junction with St James’ Avenue.
Given the proximity of the site to the River Blackwater Special Area of Conservation, planners have also requested that a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) be submitted along with the application saying that activities associated with demolition and construction at the site pose a risk of causing “significant negative effects on the Blackwater SAC”.
A county council spokesperson told The Corkman it would not be possible to say when a decision can be made on the planning application.
“That very much depends on the applicant, who has six-months in which to provide us with the additional information requested,” they said.