Vacant building in Laois town to be brought back to life with new coffee shop

Planning permission has been granted to convert a former hairdressers in Mountmellick into a coffee shop.

Qiaoyun Ni submitted the planning application to Laois County Council in February which sought the redevelopment of the commercial and residential property at 10 Patrick Street in Mountmellick which is currently vacant. 

In addition to changing the use of the building from a hairdressers to a coffee shop, the application included the demolition of a single storey extension to the rear of the premises and the construction of a two-storey extension to accommodate an internal stair serving the residential premises above the shop.

The site is currently vacant and contains a three-storey terraced building fronting facing onto the N80.

According to the planning documents submitted with the application, no additional floor space to the retail area is needed for the proposed small coffee shop.

READ NEXT: In PICTURES: Trucks, tractors, diggers, people - big Laois fuel protest at key M7 junction in Portlaoise

The demolition of the single storey extension at the back of the property will allow for an internal staircase to the first and second floor of the living accommodation. The access is via an open metal stairs which will be terminated and the landing used as a small balcony.

The ground floor and upper accommodation would appear to be two separate units from a utilities perspective.

Outside of internal renovations and thermal upgrades, the applicant says there are no other works envisaged for the area.

Laois County Council have now granted planning permission to the redevelopment on a conditional basis.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme