GrantedCommercialDecided 20 June 2023

Distillery Road, Galway

Demolition of five buildings to build a new 4-to-6 storey Learning Commons facility on Distillery Road.

23104 · Galway City Council · Lodged 27 April 2023

Reference: 23104
Authority: Galway City Council
Register status: Decided
Type: PERMISSION
Received: 27 April 2023

Summary

AI-generated

Permission is sought for the demolition of five existing buildings to facilitate a new Learning Commons facility. The proposed stepped building will range from 4 to 6 storeys, featuring an automated 'Book Bot' storage system, catering area, exhibition space, and study areas.

Commercialeducationdemolitionredevelopment

Storeys: 6
Floor area: 10,133 m²

Generated from the description above by an AI model and may contain mistakes. The council’s description is the authoritative record.

Official record

Development description

Permission for development which consists of the demolition of 5 no. Existing buildings on the proposed site, including no. 14 distillery road, block t, the storage facility, the former pharmacology building and the adjacent car parking area together with associated boundary walls and ancillary structures: to facilitate the development of a new learning commons facility on a site extending to 0.4396 ha. The development will consist of: i. The development of a stepped building which extends to 10,133 sqm metres and ranges in height from 4 to 6 storeys, at an overall maximum height of c. 28.350m and at an overall height of 36.15m od (ground level at 7.80m od) ii. The proposed learning commons features an automated book storage and retrieval system known as a "book bot" facility. Iii. 2 no. Covered entrance plazas are provided on both the north-east and south-east elevations of the building. Iv. The ground floor incorporates a catering area, an exhibition space and a learning success hub; upper floors contain individual and group study areas, seating areas, a book pickup station, book collection areas, a teaching and learning space and office space and ancillary spaces. V. An external roof-top amenity space is proposed on the four-storey element, of the southern elevation. Vi. Plant and photovoltaics proposed at roof level. Vii. Provision of 2 no. Disabled car parking spaces for the building with an additional 2 no. Spaces to support the sports centre building in the vicinity. Viii. New soft and hard landscaping, including a new external amenity space located in the northern western portion of the site. Ix. An esb substation located in the south-western portion of the site. X. All associated site engineering works which includes nature-based drainage proposals and all ancillary work. The proposed site is located immediately west of protected structure ref 8501 (rivers & waterways), circa 40 meters north-west of protected structure ref 7003 (arts science building) and circa 155 metres north-west of protected structure 7001 (james hardiman library). The planning application is supported by a natura impact statement

Land-use zoning

What this land is zoned for

Community Culture and InstitutionalCI

“To provide for institutional and community facility use”

National zoning type: Community facilities

Objective set by the Galway City Development Plan 2023 - 2029 (2023–2029). The planning authority decides each application on its own merits — this is the zoning context, not a compliance assessment.

Read the zoning objectives in the development plan

Built & sold

What happened next

Beyond the decision: whether this development was built, and what property here has sold for.

Recent sales nearby

within 500 m

Residential Property Price Register sales within 500 metres of this site
Address	Date	Price	Distance
Mac Dara, 1 Upper Newcastle, Galway	Jul 2025	€660,000	160 m
Cova, Snipe Ave, Newcastle	Nov 2025	€400,000	209 m
11 Snipe Lawn, Newcastle, Galway	Sept 2025	€550,000	240 m
23 Upper Newcastle, Newcastle, Galway	Jun 2026	€425,000	247 m
Grafton House, 27 Upper Newcastle, Galway	Jun 2026	€890,000	261 m
Grafton House, 27 Upper Newcastle, Galway	Feb 2025	€600,000	261 m
1 Snipe Lawn, Newcastle, Galway	May 2025	€760,000	281 m
Alpha House, 17 Lower Newcastle, Galway	Aug 2025	€570,000	283 m

Nearby properties, not this site — a guide to local values.

Sources: Building Control Management System (commencement notices) and the Residential Property Price Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Records are matched to this application by location and may not be exhaustive; always confirm against the official source before relying on them.

Key dates

Timeline

Application received27 April 2023
Decision due21 June 2023
Decision issued20 June 2023
Grant issued25 July 2023
Permission expiry24 July 2028

In the area

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