Major refurbishment planned for Athy site

PLANS have been lodged with Kildare County Council for the extensive redevelopment of a former department store on Emily Square, which includes the addition of new residential units and a restaurant/takeway unit.

The proposed project involves the alteration and refurbishment of the existing three-storey building at 36 Leinster Street, facing onto Emily Square, along with a two-storey dormer annex and associated outbuildings accessed from Garter Lane.

In the planning report, the applicant Lorniaeve Ltd wrote: “The property is ideally positioned in a prime location at the heart of Athy town, on the north side of Leinster Street, overlooking the vibrant market square.” According to the planning application, the development will feature a restaurant and takeaway on the development’s ground floor, along with two studio apartments and three two-bedroom apartments split between the floors above and the outbuildings to the rear of the building.

The ground floor will retain a restaurant and takeaway, with internal alterations planned to modernise the space, and two separate entrances from Emily Square, along with stair access leading to two two-bedroom apartments on the first and second floors.

To the rear, the outbuildings and part of the annex will be refurbished and extended to create additional residential accommodation, including one ground-floor studio, one one-bedroom duplex apartment, and one first-floor two-bedroom apartment.

The proposal also provides for bike storage, communal bin areas, and all associated excavation, infrastructural, and site development works both above and below ground.

If approved, the redevelopment could bring new life to one of the key buildings on Emily Square.