Zara development at Taafe’s rejected by planners

Date Published: 04-Nov-2008

Taaffe’s premises in the city centre into a huge retail store for the Spanish fashion chain Zara have been turned down for the second time.

But, significantly, An Bord Pleanála, in their ruling did not cite as one of the reasons for refusal the ‘SEVESO Directive’ which the Health and Safety Authority had previously advised Galway City Council effectively put a freeze on development within a certain distance of the oil tanks at Galway Docks.

City developer, Gerry Barrett, whose company Edward Holdings owns the William Street premises, was originally refused planning permission by Galway City Council to revamp the building in April on the grounds that medieval material would be lost by changing the shopfront.

Mr. Barrett appealed this decision to An Bord Pleanála, who have upheld the city planners’ decision and refused permission for similar reasons. The proposed development involves change of use from existing mixed use of retail and residential to retail use only, a proposed new shop front and remodeling of the ground floor door and windows to accommodate new entrance. It further involved
the removal of the roof of the three storey return to the rear of the existing building and the removal of derelict structures at the rear.

It was proposed to …