Night-life plans revealed for Killarney Outlet Centre

Planning is being sought to redevelop the top floor of the shopping centre to include a new bar, food hall and dining area and an events area with a stage and seating.

The owners of the Killarney Outlet Centre are seeking to redevelop units 63-67 for dining purposes as well as redevelop unit 69 into an events area.

The plans also hope to redevelop the open area concourse into a island bar with seating and to extend the opening hours to provide a social outlet at night for the public at the bar and dining area.

The centre is currently open from 10am to 6pm but if planning is granted this is expected to extend to 11pm Sunday to Thursday for the food court and bar on at the weekends to 12.30pm on Friday and Saturday.

The plans submitted to Kerry County Council also seek to develop a new ground floor entrance lobby and to provide new bathroom facilities.

In their application for planning for the redevelopment of the centre, Cok Property Ltd with an address in Ballincollig in Cork, said to the proposed change of use is “aimed at utilising long-standing vacant units.”

“In addition, this proposal seeks to support and create fresh interest in the centre as a retail destination and in turn to create new opportunities for social and economic development within the Killarney area,” they said.

“The proposed development is of critical importance for the regeneration and long-term re-branding of the existing Killarney Outlet Centre,” the said in their planning statement.

The units on the first floor have mainly been empty since the centre first opened 25 years ago in July 1999. During its history it has never been fully occupied. The new owners have managed to bring the ground-floor back to near full occupancy with a number of new shops including JD Sports and Born which has brought a significant boost to shopping and it is now hoped these new plans will be further provide for the future of the centre and be a boost to Killarney.

The planning application is accompanied by a comprehensive assessment of noise emissions from the proposed changed and has found that noise emissions from the proposed expansion area expected to comply with both the established noise emission criteria as well as being below the existing ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the nearest noise sensitive receptors which include the nearby Great Southern Hotel.

Planning was lodged earlier this month and a decision is due on July 18.

The owners have also revealed that this is the first part of their renovation and redevelopment of the Killarney Outlet Centre with a future application planned to revitalise the centre’s façade along Park Road, improving its visible connection to the street and support council active travel plans and connectivity within the town.