Planning permission approved for former Lurgan bank to become community hub
New life is going to be breathed into the former Allied Irish Bank branch in Lurgan as it is going to be turned into a community hub.
The approved planning application for the change of use and regeneration plans for the former bank at 4-8 Market Street was lodged by Daly & O’Neill, Portadown, on behalf of Peter McCann, Market Street, Lurgan.
The main elements of the proposal include the refurbishment and internal reconfiguration of the existing building to accommodate a community hub.
The existing external canopy and cladding will be removed and replaced with a simple timber shopfront.
New front doors will be installed, and the existing curtain wall glazing will be extended, while the existing curved mosaic walls and timber alleyway doors will be retained.
The existing car-parking layout will be reconfigured to provide 30 parking spaces, including four accessible spaces, together with associated circulation and servicing arrangements.
Associated site works include access adjustments, hard landscaping, and improved pedestrian movement within the site.
Servicing areas, delivery bays, and refuse storage will be provided to support the operation of the community hub.
The existing site access points serving the community hub will remain in use.
ABC Planning officers noted in their report: “Officers consider that while this proposal is not part of a mixed-use retail-led development, it was never a retail unit on the ground floor which forms part of the primary retail frontage.
“The building has a long history as being used as a bank. This building has been vacant for a long time, the existing ground floor will be retained with offices, where it fronts onto Market Street.
“The whole building will be brought back into use under this proposal, resulting in the maintenance and retention of an important building in Lurgan.
“Planning permission may be granted for proposals that only involve refurbishment or rehabilitation of an existing non-retail use.
“The proposed use will result in the reuse and rehabilitation of a vacant building. On balance, the proposed use is acceptable.
“The proposal is in keeping with the size and character of the settlement and its surroundings. The proposal relates to a change of use, there will be no change to the size of the building.
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“The whole building will be brought back into use under this proposal, resulting in the maintenance and retention of an important building in Lurgan.
“The proposed community hub supports the SPPS (Strategic Planning Policy Statement) objective of sustainable economic growth by reusing and enhancing a town-centre building, maintaining an active high-street frontage, and contributing to the vitality and viability of Lurgan town centre.
“The materials and techniques proposed ensure the traditional features of the original building will be enhanced.
“Officers, in consultation with Historic Environment Division (HED), are satisfied that the archaeological and built heritage features within the site will not be adversely affected by the proposal.
“The only alteration to the parking provision is reconfiguration to achieve an additional two parking spaces.
“The proposed reconfiguration of the car-parking layout will introduce a clearer and more logical arrangement, improving permeability through the site and ensuring vehicles can access parking and servicing areas without obstruction.”