Knox on O’Connell Street given extension go-ahead

A RESTAURANT on O’Connell Street in Sligo town has been granted planning permission for an extension.

Nagnata Ltd had sought approval to retain an additional floor area of 102 square metres consisting of food preparation and storage area to the rear and side of the existing Knox restaurant at number 32 O’Connell Street.

Permission has also been granted for a change of use of the adjoining ground floor retail unit to extend the existing restaurant as well as alterations to the existing entrance and internal modifications. There is also to be a new entrance to the front of the existing retail unit to access proposed new stairs to the existing first floor office spaces.

The council planner Mairéad O’Hara noted that the restaurant was presently operating in part of the ground floor of a two-storey building and and also has external dining to the front of it. She said the part of the building for which the change of use to restaurant has been sought has a roller shutter door and has been closed for a number of years. Planning permission for the present restaurant was granted in 2015 which saw approval given for a change of use of what was an insurance office to a restaurant/coffee shop.

The planner said that proposal to extend the restaurant would “maintain and enhance an existing use which is complimentary to the main commercial function of the city centre”.

She also said that the proposed frontage and new entrance was in keeping with the adjoining restaurant and “therefore this is a welcome addition to O’Connell Street”.

Planning permission was granted after further information was submitted in relation to the fume extraction system and waste disposal.

Knox restaurant on O’Connell Street, with the area into which the restaurant is to be extended on the right with the canopy.