3796/24

The applicant failed to demonstrate that the retention of the licensed premises (public house) would not erode the cultural and artistic facilities of the Temple Bar area or lead to an over-concentration of such uses, which is contrary to the specific development objectives for the Temple Bar mixed-use cultural quarter.

• The applicant has not sufficiently demonstrated that the change of use to a licensed premises would not erode or directly negatively impact the cultural and artistic facilities of the Temple Bar area, as required by Objectives CUO16 and CUO18.
• The scale and format of the development is considered to constitute a 'superpub', which contributes to an undesirable concentration of similar uses that undermines the mixed-use cultural, residential, and social functions of the locality.
• While the Inspector noted that internal alterations to the Protected Structure were largely modern and reversible, the fundamental conflict with the Temple Bar development policy framework necessitates a refusal of permission.