Planning for former Melbourne site

Three apartment blocks part of proposed masterplan.

Planning has been granted for change of use to allow the redevelopment of Cavan Town’s former Melbourne Bakery as a new healthcare centre.

The proposal dovetails with continuing discussions regarding the as yet still undecided Cavan Town Masterplan, but for which there are proposals to build three centrally located apartment blocks.

The proposed future development of Cavan Town centre seeks to promote connectivity within, and it’s suggested the integration of a healthcare is “advantageous”.

Labelbrook, the company behind a 10-year lease with HSE Estates for use of the former Jackson’s Garage as a new Women & Children’s Service Outpatients Department (OPD), has now also reached a 10 year agreement with the HSE for additional clinical accommodation at No’s 95, 96 Main Street.

Earlier this year Labelbrook applied to the council seeking a change of use to the property, as well as permission to demolish “dilapidated” outbuildings and walls to the rear, accessible from both Farnham and Thomas Ashe Street.

The proposed works are located within the curtilage of a protected structure, and permission was granted by local authority planners with a total of 12 conditions attached.

A design statement submitted by Michael Fitzpatrick Architects on behalf of Labelbrook outlined that in terms of infrastructure, the current proposal includes the provision of 11 clinical rooms, a sensory room, admin offices, and sanitary facilities.

Labelbrook will be leasing the 886.60m2 facility for a minimum of 10 years to a maximum 30. A car park extension has been scrapped and a new car park will be integrated within the parking provision for the whole site.

The architects report further notes that the Cavan Town Masterplan is currently being developed to progress the Town Centre which will attract “more businesses, more jobs, and ultimately more residents”.

Part of this masterplan is to provide a mix-used development consisting mainly of residential units divided into three separate apartment blocks.

A spokesperson for the HSE previously informed the Celt: “There is a need for additional clinical accommodation for all clinical services provided across Primary Care Services in the Cavan Network.”

They added: “There has been no decision as to which services will be based in this development.”

Drumalee Primary Care Centre will meanwhile “continues to provide services” to the Cavan community from its location.