Plans for Hairdressers to Casino Refused by Cork City Council

_{Cork City Council refused planning for Casino. (Image: Stephen Long / Alamy} 

From shampoo and set to a spin of the roulette wheel. Those were the plans for an empty former hair salon, which the applicants wanted to change into a casino on Cork’s Northside.

The glitz and glamour of the salon is not to be replicated at theland based casino as local objections forced Cork City Council to turn down the plans giving the reason that neighbouring businesses would be disrupted.

There will be no B2B as a result following a planning inspector for Cork City Council bringing down the rubber stamp.

Business Owners Wanted to Add to their Existing Casinos

The applicants Leeside Leisure Centre Ltd submitted an application to convert Unit 6 of the More miles Business Centre on Redforge Road in Blackpool into a “gaming/amusement arcade”. It was hoped that the new business would complement its two existing casinos located in central Cork City.

Optician and Travel Company Aired their Concerns

A neighbouring optician objected on the grounds that it would be “completely unsuitable in what is a highly residential area comprised mainly of families and elderly people”.

The objection stated: “We are concerned that a gaming/amusement arcade will encourage antisocial behaviour.

“From our own point of view as the only optician providing services in this area of the city for the last 18 years, we would fear our loyal customers would be deterred from attending our practice due to the concerns outlined above.”

Another neighbouring business, Blackpool Travel also submitted an objection stating it was “Totally unsuitable area for such a development.

The travel company said: “It would be impossible for our staff and clients to make a holiday booking with the noise from gaming machines, not to mind the chaos that would ensue outside the door.”  

There were fears that the new gambling premises would result in anti-social behaviour.

Planning Inspector Recommended Refusal

The objections were agreed on by a planning inspector for Cork City Council. 

The inspector said: “Given the nature of the adjoining uses I consider that they are likely to be unduly impacted by noise etc should the proposed change of use occur.

“I also note that the subject site is within 30m of residences on Dublin Hill and is located opposite the Blackpool Library.”

The inspector recommended permission be refused.

Cork City Council identified the site as being in an area that had been zoned for “public infrastructure and utilities”.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said: “It is considered that the proposed use as a gaming / amusement arcade does not conform to the zoning objectives of the area.”

Cork City Council also turned down a proposal for a casino in Ballincollig in 2024 citing a ‘high potential for nuisance’ in the immediate area.