Distillery Road, Galway

What’s proposed

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