Planning extension sought for Edenderry project

An application has been made to Offaly council planners to extend permission granted to a project that looks to demolish the former cinema at O'Connell Square in Edenderry as well as the former fire station on Colonel Perry Street. Planning for the project was initially sought in December 2004. An appeal to an Bord Pleanála was later dismissed in February 2007 and permission was given to the project on March 12, 2007. That permission is set to expire today, Sunday, March 11, however on February 29 planners received the request for planning extension from Noel and Josephine Crahan, who are behind the project. The scheme looked to demolish protected structures at 46-47 JKL Street in Edenderry, the town's former cinema at O'Connell Square and the former fire station at Colonel Perry Street. In their place it was planned to construct a mixed use building providing 5,135 square metres of retail space, a lower ground floor level of 3,780 square metres, a basement level of 4,035 square metres accommodating 135 car parking spaces, 50 duplex apartments at Larkin's Lane and a new pedestrian street from O'Connell Square to a proposed new road at the rear of the new structure. Offaly County Council planning department has indicated a decision on whether or not to give the scheme a planning extension will be made by April 24 next.