Wexford Businessman unveils exciting plan for Entertainment Complex beside Talbot Hotel
Well-known Wexford businessman Des Pettitt of the Pettitts supermarket and hotel groups has applied for planning permission to develop the former C&D Providers site in Trinity Street into a family entertainment centre, including a bowling alley and a children’s party venue.
The site which adjoins the Talbot Hotel in Wexford was bought last summer by the Talbot Hotel Group which announced that it would not be proceeding with plans by the previous owners HPC Sales for a controversial apartment complex which had been approved earlier by the local authority.
The fresh application was lodged with Wexford County Council by a company called Oyster Lane Ltd whose directors are Des and Bernadette Pettitt. The registered address is St Aidan’s Shopping Centre in St Aidan’s Crescent, Wexford.
They are seeking planning permission to demolish the vacant builders providers premises and construct a two-storey family entertainment centre fronting onto Trinity Street, along with the installation of sedum green roofs, 40 car parking spaces, a coach set-down area and a link from the proposed car park with the existing Talbot Hotel car park.
The works will involve the restoration of existing water and sewer connections and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been submitted with the application.
During pre-planning discussions between the applicants and County Council planners, it was noted that the site is zoned Town Centre and the principle of the proposed development is considered acceptable at this location but the design should have regard to the adjoining residential properties.
The applicants were also advised that biodiversity proposals would be welcome in relation to landscaping; an archaeological assessment would be required and a transport and traffic plan would be needed due to the size of the development.
A trade effluent licence is required for the restaurant and this was granted by Uisce Éireann and provided with the application.
In response to the biodiversity request, the applicants submitted a landscape plan using native plants listed in the National Pollinator Plan plant list and a proposal for environmentally friendly sedum green roofs which provide a micro-climate for wildlife and reduce water run-off.
The site currently offers few habitats for biodiversity as the ground surface is completely covered in concrete and built surfaces, although lime-rendered stone walls to allow mosses and lichen to develop.
The incorporation in the plans of sedum roofs, ground cover planting, trees, green wall planting, flower beds and borders is intended to increase the local biodiversity.
The Trinity Street site was placed on the market by Sherry Fitzgerald Radford in April of 2022 and went to sale agreed for a figure well above the €1 million asking price.
The vendors were HPC Sales, the parent company of C&D Providers, who were granted planning permission on a second attempt for 45 apartments and retail units after an application was initially turned down by Wexford County Council, partly due to fears about ground contamination following decades of gas and coal production on the site of the old Wexford Gas Works.
Residents appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála on the grounds of visual impact, loss of privacy, a risk of damage to houses in Parnell Street from excavations to build an underground car park on reclaimed land, increased traffic hazard and environmental and health concerns from the release of hazardous substances.
At the time of purchase, Philip Gavin, managing director of the Talbot Collection said the company was delighted to have acquired the site which brought opportunities to further expand and develop its presence on Trinity Street.
“We are very conscious that this development has been of great concern to many of our neighbours, customers and friends in recent years but I would like to take this opportunity to inform them that it will not be our intention to pursue the development of the block of apartments”, he said.
“In fact, we have some exciting plans and ideas for the site that we are currently working on, that we are confident will be received very positively by all our neighbours and by the wider community”.