Plans to turn old Mayo bank into a playschool refused due to flooding concerns

A proposal to turn a former bank in a north Mayo town into a children's playschool has been refused planning as the building is located in a flood zone.

A planning application was submitted by Tir Na Nog Crossmolina Childcare CLG to Mayo County Council to change the use of the former Bank of Ireland building on Bridget Street, Crossmolina to a playschool.

However, the building is located close to the River Deel and the site is considered a flood zone and plans to change the use to a playschool would result in the building become ‘highly vulnerable’.

Construction on the Crossmolina Flood Reflief Scheme is currently ongoing but despite this planners felt the application would be 'premature' pending its completion and refused planning permission.

The Bank of Ireland branch in Crossmolina closed in 2005 as part of nationwide bank closures and the structure is a single storey with a floor area of 120 square metres.

Tir Na Nog Crossmolina Childcare CLG is a volunteer led non profit organisation which currently provides after school care in the community. The proposal for the former bank building was to include a play area/classroom along with a play room and sensory room and toilets.

READ: Mayo council planners accused of “always looking for a reason” to refuse planning permission

As part of planning guidelines for flood risk management, a bank would be classed as ‘Less Vulnerable’ type development whereas a playschool would be classed as ‘Highly Vulnerable’ development.

“The locating of ‘Highly Vulnerable’ type development in Flood Zone A is to be avoided. The proposal in this instance for a change of use from a bank to a school facility would amount to a change from ‘Less Vulnerable’ to ‘Highly Vulnerable’ landuse activity and would therefore (if granted) increase the risk to persons/occupants of the existing building,” the planners report read.

The planners stated that if permitted the development would be ‘an unacceptable’ flood risk which would pose a threat to public safety, and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development in the area.

As a result, planning permission to change the use of the building from a bank to a playschool was refused.