A long–empty shop on Lurgan’s High Street is set for a new lease of life – as extra space for a popular local coffee shop.
The former Faith Mission bookshop at 21 High Street is to be turned into a seating area serving ‘The Mill’ café, which operates to the rear of the property.
A planning application for a change of use was lodged by PJ Design, Bridge Street, Lisburn, on behalf of Ryan McCann, 21 High Street, Lurgan.
In their report, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council planning officers said the move ticks all the right boxes and complies with the relevant policies.
They described the premises as a ground-floor unit in a two-storey terrace, currently used as storage for The Mill café behind it. The former bookshop is vacant, with its own door and large shop window onto High Street.
Inside, a section of wall between the café and the old bookshop will be knocked through and an existing doorway widened to open the space up. The entrance and frontage onto High Street will stay as they are for now, with any new signage needing a separate planning application.
Planners stressed the proposal won’t create an “over-concentration” of coffee shops on the street, as it is simply extending seating for an existing business rather than adding a new café.
The site sits close to High Street Methodist Church, a protected building of special architectural or historic interest. Historic Environment Division has looked at the plans and confirmed it is content with the proposal.
Council’s Environmental Health Department also examined the application and carried out a site visit. They were told the plans include extra storage, an office and more customer seating and waiting space.
Cooking facilities, extraction and the flue will all remain as they are, with no changes proposed to opening hours. On that basis, Environmental Health has “no objection in principle”.
Planning officers say the scheme will “bring a vacant building back into use” and “will not adversely affect the character” of the nearby listed church, and have recommended the application for approval.
