Exciting retail unit plans in Kilkenny awaiting decision from local authority

A disused betting office in the heart of Kilkenny City could soon be serving coffees and cakes - if a new planning application lodged with Kilkenny County Council is greenlit.

Sylwia Sep-Borkowska has submitted a proposal to convert the former betting office at Irishtown/Dean Street (R95 XK40) into a café complete with a coffee and cake area, kitchen, seating zones, toilets, and a new shopfront design featuring subtle modern touches and an external awning.

The total development spans 72.4 square metres, and if approved, aims to breathe new life into the building while maintaining its architectural integrity.

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“The proposed works aim to preserve and enhance the original shopfront, retaining its architectural features and character while introducing subtle modern interventions necessary to facilitate the new café use,” the planning cover letter states.

The planned new café seeks to contribute to the ongoing regeneration of the Irishtown area, a location already seeing the positive impact of similar ventures such as Cake Face and Fran Grincell Properties.

The application, received on April 29, 2025, is due for a decision by June 23, 2025.

It includes a full suite of planning documents including site plans, visualisations and proposed elevations.

The project is positioned as a balance between heritage and new enterprise.

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“The proposal aims to reinstate and revitalise the existing shopfront along Dean Street, reusing the original elements wherever possible in order to preserve the character and integrity of the streetscape,” the planning cover letter continued.

The planning authority is now considering the application but the decision timeline could be extended if further information is sought from the applicant by the local authority.

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