Erne Palais plans get green light

Plans to transform the former Erne Palais Ballroom in Belturbet to a suite of new residential units have been granted by Cavan County Council.

Erne Palais Ltd applied for planning permission for the development with the proposed design aimed at retaining the front facade of the historic original building after much of the Palais was destroyed by fire in 2018.

To be partially demolished, up to 30% of the original building’s footprint at the junction of Holborn Hill and Barrack Lane will be re-generated and replaced with two high-end apartment units.

Plans for the remainder of the site, which is to be developed privately, include three terraced houses and two bungalows.

Further information on the development was sought by planners back in February, and submitted by the applicants in mid-May.

Permission was granted with a total of 13 conditions attached, which includes that the developer pays €35,000 to benefit development in the area, and a further €2,000 security to be lodged as a bond. In addition Erne Palais Ltd must submit a detailed construction and demolition waste plan, as well as a full structural report.

Built in 1947, the Palais building was first utilised as a cinema, before being transformed into one of the region’s most popular ballrooms, then a community centre, before falling into disuse.

Just months before the fire in September 2018, Cavan County Council announced it had reached an agreement for the purchase the Erne Palais building.

The agreement was subject to planning permission, and would have seen six social housing units for elderly persons erected on the site.

The local authority may yet do a deal with the owners to purchase all or some of the units for social housing purposes once complete.