Planning application received: the change of use of first floor area from storage area to use as meeting /community function areas, change of use of ex

A planning application has been lodged with Carlow County Council for the Goodly Barrow site in Ballyellin, Co. Carlow. The applicant proposes to change the use of the first‑floor area from a storage space to meeting and community function areas. In addition, the existing indoor car‑parking spaces are to be converted into four new startup business hubs, together with all associated site works. The proposal concerns a protected structure, CW124A, which is the Mill Building in Goresbridge.

The application was received on 26 August 2026 and the council’s decision is due on 20 October 2026. No decision code has yet been assigned. The change of use would allow the building to serve a broader role in the local community, providing a venue for meetings and events while also creating a small business incubator that could support local entrepreneurs. The protected status of the structure means that any alterations will need to respect the building’s historic character, and the council will need to assess the impact on the structure’s fabric and setting.

The Goodly Barrow proposal is part of a broader pattern of development activity in the area. Recent decisions in Co. Carlow include the construction of a new dwelling and domestic garage at Knocklishen Beg, the approval of a new private dwelling with a detached garage at Patrickswell, and alterations to an existing garage at Craan. These decisions illustrate the council’s ongoing work to balance new development with the preservation of local heritage.

In other news, the council recently lost two houses in a squatter’s rights case, a reminder of the complex legal and social issues that can arise in the management of local properties.

The application for Goodly Barrow is still pending review. Residents and stakeholders will be able to comment on the proposal during the council’s public consultation period. The council will consider the potential benefits of the new community and business spaces against the need to protect the historic character of the mill building.

For more details, see the Carlow County Council planning portal, reference 2660262.

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