Major Mayo commercial project facing further planning delays

A MULTI-million-euro commercial development planned for Castlebar town centre has been hit by a further planning setback.

Local businessmen Dermot Fadden and Ivan Carroll had been awaiting positive New Year news from An Bord Pleanála to allow them commence work on the former Lavelle's Bakery and Upper Crust sites at Main Street following an appeal in respect of a gable wall issue.

But they have been informed by the planning appeals board that a ruling is not now being issued for another few months. In an unexpected move, the board has sought an extension of time to deal with the appeal by the owner of one of the adjacent buildings at Linenhall Street, Nancy Flynn.

The planning application to which the appeal was lodged early in 2017 was by Patrick and Anna Fadden to demolish an existing shop unit, construct a two-storey shop on a smaller footprint, new pedestrian laneway and link bridge to the adjoining site where the projects by Dermot Fadden and Ivan Carroll are proposed.

Dermot Fadden, who heads the Sixth Sense men's fashion outlet, is investing in a new retail development which will face on to Market Street, while Ivan Carroll, the proprietor of the Bay Leaf Restaurant in Turlough, is converting the old bakery building into a state-of-the-art restaurant adjacent to what is known locally as Hoban's car park, which is owned by Mayo County Council.

Part of the project involves creating an access to the existing riverside and greenway walks in the town by demolishing a building owned by Patrick and Anna Fadden at Linenhall Street.