New coffee shop plans for shopping centre car park

WORK commenced on the construction of a coffee shop in the car park of the Old Bawn Shopping Centre in recent weeks.

The development received planning permission from South Dublin County Council back in 2018, for a period of five years, and it’s slowly beginning to take shape.

According to the planning application lodged by Towerbright Limited, the development is to consist of a 180sq.m single-storey coffee shop, with three car parking spaces, located within the existing car park.

The permitted development includes a 64sq.m outdoor seating area and a new pedestrian entrance onto the Old Bawn Road.

It’s noted in the application that the development will result in a reduction in the number of spaces in the existing car park, from 110 to 97 in total.

The development was the subject of a third-party appeal by Colm Kenny of The Bread Shop, an existing bakery and café in the Old Bawn Shopping Centre.

He claimed the development would “threaten the viability” of his shop, and he would “lose customers to any new multi-national café brand”.

Mr Kenny also expressed concerns about the impact the development could have on car parking and traffic congestion at the shopping centre.

An Bord Pleanála upheld South Dublin County Council’s decision to grant permission for the construction of the coffee shop, ruling on November 7, 2018, that it would “be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience”.