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Change of use shop to Massage- planning

  • 07-03-2009 10:01pm
    #1
    Builderfromhell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,570 ✭✭✭


    A friend of ours took out a lease on an old flower shop and turned it into a Thai massage parlour. Limerick City Council has written to her telling her that she needs permission for change of use and new sign.
    I have not yet seen the letter but am wondering if she actually needs Permission for change of use.
    I know that residential to commercial requires permission.
    Retail to restaurant or take away requires permission.
    It surprises me that retail to massage parlour would require permission.
    Seems an un-necessary hassle and expense for a struggling business.

    Any advice, opinions appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    sinnerboy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,433 ✭✭✭sinnerboy


    Definite case for a return to the bartering system .... :D


  • #3
    sinnerboy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,433 ✭✭✭sinnerboy


    Download the development plan . In there will be several matrix's of use classes and definitions which will group compatible uses together .
    Compatible - as the LA sees it .

    See where massage parlors fit .

    The change of shopfront is always a favorite for enforcement when things go a little quite of course . Nice ( for them ) to have a potentially limitless workload is it not ?

    And of course a planning permission process may give rise to a Fr. Ted type demo " down with that sort of thing" and "careful now" .


  • #4
    Builderfromhell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,570 ✭✭✭Builderfromhell


    Thanks Sinnerboy


  • #5
    Penn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,730 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    I haven't checked, but I'm pretty sure that does count as a material change of use. Its not just commercial to residential, or vice versa. Changing from a restaurant to chemist, or a shop to a hairdressers, is a change of use. So flower shop to thai massage parlour (?!) would be a change of use and require planning


  • #6
    gman2k
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,076 ✭✭✭gman2k


    I would imagine that this is a legit Thai spa/ massage business, and would fall under the same sort of categorization as hair dressing salon, barbers etc. which are a form of retail?


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  • #7
    Poor Uncle Tom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,547 ✭✭✭✭Poor Uncle Tom


    Planning and Development Regs, SI No. 600 of 2001 also has a list of exempted change of uses, Class 14 I think it was.

    Limerick's bye-laws may be specific on the requirements also, but usually retail to retail is exempt.


  • #8
    Penn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,730 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    gman2k wrote: »
    I would imagine that this is a legit Thai spa/ massage business, and would fall under the same sort of categorization as hair dressing salon, barbers etc. which are a form of retail?

    I don't think hairdressers or Thai massage parlour count as retail. Technically, you aren't buying anything. I may be wrong but I'd say its a material change of use so you'd need planning. If the Council has said you require permission for this change of use then it'd have to be.

    Lets face it, flower shop and thai massage parlour are 2 very different things. You go into a flower shop, chances are your wife will be very happy. You go into a thai massage parlour, you may need another massage after sleeping on the couch :D


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