Rushmere Shopping Centre secures approval for restaurant and bar fit-out in Craigavon

Northern Ireland-based Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon has secured planning approval for the refurbishment and extension of the former Synge & Byrne café into a new restaurant with additional seating capacity and a bar area, the Irish News reported.

The approved planning application was lodged by MBA Planning Ltd, Belfast, on behalf of Killahoey Ltd, Portadown. The scheme involves the refurbishment, extension and alterations to the vacant restaurant at unit 36 within the Craigavon shopping complex, which closed its doors a year ago.

Works will include an external seating area, planters and a new façade to the west entrance of the shopping centre. The existing restaurant unit comprises approximately 167 square metres, and the proposal extends this by another 84 square metres. The external seating area will extend to 55 square metres.

MBA Planning explained in their planning statement that the new offering would help boost the night-time economy at Rushmere Shopping Centre.

"The extended restaurant, its regenerated façade and mall entrance will provide a vibrant, accessible and positive contribution to the area's townscape with a warm, welcoming and active frontage," the statement said.

"The proposal seeks to develop and extend the burgeoning evening economy of the shopping centre, by providing a new hospitality offering that will provide good food and drink all day and into the evening."

ABC Planning officers said they had no objections to the proposal. "The proposal will represent a redevelopment of a vacant unit and will create jobs for the area," planning officers said. "Although this is given no determining weight, the proposal will have a positive effect on the local economy."

The fit-out project aims to transform the vacant unit into a vibrant hospitality venue supporting Rushmere Shopping Centre's evening economy expansion.

Read the complete article on Rushmere Shopping Centre's restaurant and bar fit-out approval.