Alterations to the existing St. Francis of Assisi Church to reduce the capacity…

The development will consist of alterations to the existing St. Francis of Assisi Church to reduce the capacity of the main church space and provide additional pastoral care and complementary facilities within the currently underutilised spaces. The proposed development will include: 1. Partial demolition and replacement of the eastern side of the existing building creating a new eastern elevation; provision of a new mezzanine floor level (139 sqm); reconfiguration of all internal spaces resulting in the provision of a church space with capacity for approximately 200 persons and a range of spaces suitable for ancillary and complementary uses; creation of new openings in the north and south elevations; together with thermal upgrade of existing fabric and solar PV panels at roof level. The total gross floor area of the Church building will increase from 846 sqm existing to 985 sqm proposed. 2. Reconfiguration of the car parking area to the northeast of the church including minor relocation of the existing vehicular access approximately 4.5m southward to incorporate a new pedestrian access to the north providing a pedestrian path to the Church and associated reconfiguration of car parking resulting in a reduction in total number of parking spaces from 47 no. spaces to 35 no. spaces and the provision of 20 no. new bicycle spaces (comprising 16 no. standard and 4 no. cargo spaces). 3. Creation of a new landscaped open space to the south of the Church, including the provision of new boundary to Clonshaugh Avenue comprising a brickwork colonnade with light railings inset and incorporating a bell tower, together with hard and soft landscaping (including boundary treatments) and all other associated site development works.