Two vacant shop units in Ogle Street in Armagh look set to be refurbished and brought back into productive use – with one of them to become a hot food takeaway.
And there are also proposals to develop two apartments above and to the rear of the properties in question.
Proposals for the redevelopment of numbers 15 and 17 Ogle Street have been drawn up and an application – in the name of Tommy French – submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
The hot food takeaway would open and operate from number 17, with the other shop unit – with no final use as yet indicated – directly next door at number 15, a property previously used a bookies.
According to a concept statement, the first floor and attace space of 17 Ogle Street was previously used for storage, while the upper level of number 15 was being used as “office and general storage” for the bookmakers.
The plan is to “reinstate” two “previously occupied commercial units at ground floor/street level” in a move which would create a number of jobs when trading. The application estimates six staff on site daily.
There would be a single bedroom apartment to the front of the first floor of the shop units and a two-bedroom apartment to the rear. Both would be accessed directly from Ogle Street via a ‘shared’ door.
The concept statement explains: “It is proposed for the shop unit at No 17 to be a hot food takeaway with a further shop unit to be accommodated in what was previously a bookmakers at No 15.
“The external frontage is to remain largely as existing with the exception of minor change of arrangement to the shop front to accommodate access to the proposed apartments and any repairs and making good that may be required during the course of the proposed works.”
Meanwhile, given the “existing mixed uses” within the vicinity – and the fact the properties have been “vacant for a number of years” – an additional design and access statement argues that the proposals would “enhance the streetscape in this area of Armagh” and would be “in line with other recent adjacent development”.
It adds: “The property at No 15 in particular is now in a poor state of repair and any remedial works would obviously be included in any redevelopment should our proposal be granted approval.
“We would be hopeful that our proposal would be viewed as a further enhancement to this area and, at time that there are a number of vacant shop units and other premises in various towns and cities across Northern Ireland, we believe it is encouraging that the applicant is endeavouring to refurbish and re-purpose two such properties.”
The application will now be advertised shortly and a decision to follow in due course.
