Galway City Council has approved plans for a new café in a vacant retail unit in the city centre.
Planning permission has been granted to Margaret Cooke for renovation and change of use of the former Book Exchange store at 23 Abbeygate Street Lower.
The building, which is located close to Eyre Square and Shop Street, has not been in commercial use since October 2022 according to the planning application.
The proposed works consist of the provision of a new staircase and first floor structure to the building, which is a Protected Structure.
Retention permission is also being sought for work done to the internal structure.
“The proposed change of use to the building is to be considered as a method of prolonging the vitality and viability of Galway City Core and extending the usability of the protected structure,” the planning statement for the application states.
Planning permission for the conversion was granted with six standard conditions attached, including adherence to all mitigation measures outlined in the Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment report.
The council, however, refused approval for the retention or replacement of PVC windows at the front and rear due to the building being a Protected Structure.
The council inspector’s planning report indicated that it would be preferable if timber sliding sash windows could be used instead.
