Vacant site on city’s southside set for new lease of life

A VACANT site in Ballyphehane “falling into disrepair” looks set for a new lease of life following a recent planning decision.

Cork City Council has granted conditional planning permission for a restaurant and takeaway at the disused ground floor of a building on Pearse Square.

The application was lodged back in the summer by Injamamul Haque who sought permission for the development at number five Pearse Square, which was previously occupied by O’Sullivan’s Off Licence but has been vacant for a number of years.

A description of the development said it would include seating for approximately 20 people and a takeaway element.

The new restaurant, which will be called ‘Wok N Fair’, is expected to employ six staff members on site.

Cork City Council sought some further information before making a decision on the application.

In relation to parking and traffic, the response to the further information request stated that it is “not expected that vehicle movements will have any significant impact on the existing traffic conditions within the immediate vicinity of the site”.

“The proposed development will serve a local catchment area and will be in use outside peak traffic or parking periods.

“The requirement for parking will be minimal and the majority of those accessing the site will be doing so on a time-sensitive basis,” the response continued.

Regarding concerns raised about anti-social behaviour within the immediate vicinity in observations submitted on the proposed development, the response to the further information request said the development would “make use of a vacant site falling into disrepair”.

Cork City Council has now granted permission for the new establishment, subject to 10 conditions.

One condition stipulates that, in order to “safeguard the amenities of the area, with regard to new material impacts that could arise from other kinds of fast food / takeaway outlets”, use of the premises “shall be as a takeaway restaurant only and no change of use including as a standalone takeaway or fast-food outlet of another kind, shall take place without a prior grant of planning permission”.

Another states that the use of the premises as a hot food takeaway restaurant must cease on or before a period of five years to “enable the effect of the development on the residential amenities of the area to be reviewed having regard to the circumstances then prevailing”.