Part 8 approval for €3.5m Blacklion development

Part 8 planning approval has been granted in respect of ambitious new plans to provide a new two-storey co-working facility and community centre in Blacklion.

The proposals, which include the replacement of a property known locally as ‘Mooney’s Hall' and the redevelopment of the Fairgreen area, came before the elected members of Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District at their meeting last Tuesday afternoon, March 19.

The proposal was unanimously approved.

The progress in relation to the long-sought plans comes after Cavan County Council completed the acquisition of the bulk of the West Cavan village's Fairgreen area last year. They had previously purchased a plot to the front of the property some years before.

The unoccupied ‘Mooney’s Hall’ meanwhile is in the ownership of Killinagh Community Council.

Councillors gave their approval to plans that include the demolition of the existing 'Mooney's Hall' building, and the construction of a new street facing two-storey co-working facility consisting of shared office spaces, meeting rooms and associated ancillary spaces.

The remainder of the proposed plan concerns the construction of a new single storey community centre incorporating a new hall space, canteen/ kitchen, sanitary facilities, and again, associated ancillary spaces.

Furthermore, the proposed development will allow for the construction of a new car park, including electric charging points, together with all soft and hard landscaping, and ancillary works necessary to facilitate the planned works.

The Part 8 was presented to the councillors by Senior Executive Engineer Derry Scanlon with the approval of Senior Planner at Cavan County Council, Nicholas O'Kane.

Part 8 approval for the proposed development, being conducted in partnership between the council and the local community, was proposed by Fianna Fáil's John Paul Feeley who welcomed its potential for creating a new public amenity in the village.

He said the Mooney's Hall redevelopment would create additional office space for Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, where the Geopark Team are currently located in one central office in the nearby MacNean Resource Centre.

Funding of just over €50,000 was secured to bring the project through detailed design and planning, with the plans and design delivered by Cavan architect Ronan Fitzpatrick of Craft Studios.

While there is no funding available for the projects at present, estimated to cost in the region of €3.5m to deliver and to be done on a phased basis, Cllr Feeley said it was important to have the planning in place so that the council could now begin explore funding opportunities for the future.

“It may be down the road and it may be done on a phased basis over the coming years but we now have a clear plan to put in place top quality buildings which will really improve the village and provide excellent facilities for the wider community. A conservative estimate of the cost of construction of the entire project currently stands at about € 3.5 million so a phased approach is most likely to bring this to a conclusion.”