Planning permission for a development involving social housing and a cultural space along Merchant’s Road is expected to be sought by the Galway City Council within the coming months.
The Merchants Road Social Housing/Cultural Space Proposal will involve a cultural space on the ground floor, with the residential accommodation located above. It is located close to the Pálás Cinema.
The accommodation will involve 11 social housing units - three one bedroom units, and eight two bedroom units - accessed by stairs and a lift. The exact nature of the cultural space will be based on a public expression of interest process.
According to a report by the city council, the proposed development “will strengthen the cultural area, including the Pálás Cinema and the proposed Galway Museum extension”, and facilitate the “greater movement of people down Shop Street, through Spanish Arch, and up Merchants Road back to Eyre Square”.
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City Hall applied for capital funding under the Social Housing Investment Programme for the redevelopment/construction of the site and has been granted €4,242,970 to include site costs. The appropriate planning notices are expected to be will be published by the spring,
The proposed development has been welcomed by Labour Galway City West councillor, Niall McNelis [ ]. “It will not only supply 11 much needed properties for housing,” he said, “but will also create a stronger cultural space for Galway city.”
