Green light for redevelopment of city centre office building

Planners have given the green light for an extensive refurbishment plan for a city centre office block – where an international company is already planning to locate.

The Dublin-based company O’Malley Property Ltd – headed up by Frank, Myles and Jason O’Malley – had sought permission for work to the Hynes Building on St Augustine Street.

According to the applicants, they already have a “high-quality FDI (Foreign Director Investment) tenant” lined up for the building, while the public library on the ground floor will remain in place.

The plans include an overhaul to the front of the building, a change of use of office type on the ground floor and first floor, and the construction of 97 square metres of new office space through removal and infill works.

According to the applicants, the tenant wants to locate in Galway City, and there is no other suitable office space available in the city centre.

“This tenant wishes to locate to Ireland and specifically to Galway City. There are no other suitable buildings in the city centre area that are capable of being upgraded to meet the requirements of this specific tenant within the necessary timeframe.

“It is understood that this tenant will not relocate to Galway (or indeed Ireland) if this building is not upgraded within the required timeframe.”

“The development would result in the provision of an office with a large floorplate that will attract a specific high-quality FDI occupant, new to Galway (and Ireland), thus, the creation of new jobs in the city; the modernisation and upgrade of an existing building and improvements to the visual appearance of a city centre building.”

This week, planners gave the project the go-ahead ruling: “The proposed upgrading works are acceptable and will ensure that this building is modernised rather than demolished and rebuilt in the interests of sustainability”.

They attached a series of conditions, including a stipulation that construction and demolition work can only take place from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

A vehicular wheel-washing facility must be installed on-site to prevent dirt being transferred to the public roads.

Planners also pointed out that cladding on the St Augustine Street side covers an earlier 1970s frontage which incorporates a crest of Murray, Earls of Atholl from 1818, which must be exposed to view if uncovered during the work.