Planners want restaurant in Fairgreen Webworks building

The owner of the Webworks building at the Fairgreen has been told to make space available for a restaurant for commuters, before Galway City Council will consider plans for new Department of Social Protection offices there.

The building was bought earlier this year by Irish millionaire Jason Williams through his Connaught and Whitehall Capital UK Ltd investment company for a figure believed to be in the region of €4.5 million.

That company subsequently entered into an agreement with the Office of Public Works to lease the entire office space in the building to the Department of Social Protection for an ‘Intreo’ office.

However, as well as the three floors of office space, the Dept also required a change of use of a mezzanine level from restaurant (for the coach station on the ground floor) to a public office.

“The proposed existing vacant mezzanine level is to be enclosed and dedicated to the new public offices. However, when originally granted by the City Council this was to have been a café restaurant for the new bus station.

“It appears that the coffee dock and sweet/newspaper kiosk which were to have formed part of the bus station development have not been provided either.

“The additional deficit of the restaurant would leave the bus station with no hospitality facilities at all to service the travelling public,” planners said, asking the applicant to consider retaining the space for restaurant use

They also questioned whether staff or the public will have access to the two levels of underground parking, and to confirm adequate provision has been made for toilet facilities for staff and customers, and that they be fully accessible.

The building will be an ‘Intreo’ office – these offices are the new single point of contact for all employment and income supports.

“[It is] designed to provide a more streamlined approach for jobseekers and employers. The use comprises office use with both a public access element and a backroom office support,” according to the OPW.

“[It] serves the entire city area and the city centre location maximizes its accessibility to all, particularly by public transport,” the OPW said.