Plans for long awaited new community hall in Offaly put on hold

Plans for a long awaited new community hall in Offaly have been put on hold. 

Ballyboy Community Development Community Development Company is seeking permission to demolish the existing, derelict hall and to construct a new community hall in its place. The old hall has lain idle for many years.

The new hall is planned to have a new main hall area, a smaller meeting room, kitchen, store room and a partial lower ground/basement storage area.

The plans also include a new road entrance and car parking. A recent Birr Municipal District Meeting was told that €50,000 from Town and Village Reneewal has been granted towards the scheme. Offaly County Council will lease back this property to Ballyboy Development Association. The aim of Ballyboy Development Association is that the Hall will become a multi-purpose community space.

However plans for the development have been put on hold for now as Offaly County Council has sought further information before making a decision on the plans. 

The applicant has been asked to submit a revised layout plan with further information including sight distances on the public road and details on car parking spaces. 

Among further information, details are also being sought on additional car parking spaces for temporary use when larger events are taking place.