Green light for Galway multi-use space despite earlier ‘overdevelopment’ concerns
Refused planning permission for retail space, offices, and apartments in Loughrea has been given the go-ahead by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
In April 2025, Stephen O'Rourke put forward an application to Galway County Council for the construction of three, ground floor offices and a retail café, less than 1km from Loughrea town centre.
In addition, four duplex/triplex residential apartments were proposed above the retail space.
The development site shares a car park with Loughrea Shopping Centre, and sides with the Maltings housing estate in Cosmona. The site is currently gated and being used as construction equipment storage.
The local authority initally refused the proposal seeing it as an “overdevelopment” of the local area which was not suited for the site.
The refusal read that the “height, bulk and overall massing” of the three and four-story building “would negatively impact the visual and residential amenities of the local area.”
The original application was also missing a detailed report from Irish Water “relating to consent to connect to the public waste and water infrastructure to serve the proposed development.”
Six submissions calling for a refusal were put forward by residents agreeing with overdevelopment concerns and incongruence with the character of the area.
In July 2025, the applicant submitted an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála with updated documents reflecting a changed site layout and an acknowledgement email from Irish Water.
The applicant stated the offices would be a “welcome addition to the existing employment base” and feed into a 15-minute city concept with the office space coexisting with retail and accommodation.
A bus stop remains 100m away from the proposed development which sees daily services from five bus routes.
An Coimisiún Pleanála saw the development fit for the commercial and mixed-use zoning of the land and was satisfied with the size and function of the development relating to its neighboring businesses.
The plans were given an approval in March 2026 with 17 conditions attached.