A new bar and restaurant – complete with farm shop – are in the pipeline for Dromore.
The development is part of a farm diversification project, with an application now lodged with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
The new enterprises would serve as an extension to a ‘working farm’ on the Villa Wood Road in Dromore.
The applicant is Gill Hall Farm and the proposals were drawn up after pre-application advice sought from council.
If successful, the works would see the construction of a farm shop with associated bar and restaurant or cafe for visitors.
There would also be an external seating area covered by a canopy, as well as toilets.
Landscaping also features in plans, and the development would include the provision of 43 car parking spaces.
A noise assessment accompanying the application states: “The immediate surrounding area primarily comprises a mixture pasture lands, an existing agricultural shed and access laneways. Residential dwellings are sporadically located along Villa Wood Road and Blackskull Road.”
The trading hours have “yet to be defined”, although the applicant has advised that for the vast majority of the year the proposal will not be open beyond 11pm, apart from a “number of occasions” for events such as taster evenings.
An archaeological assessment concluded that the development would “have no significant impact on the settings of any identified cultural heritage assets within the wider search area”.
Additional supporting information confirms: “The proposal is for a farm diversification project involving an extension to an existing farm building, with the extension to comprise a restaurant/café and farm shop as an ancillary element.”
Collectively, the extension would boast floorspace of in excess of 3,000 sq ft, the majority of which would be earmarked for the new bar and restaurant.
The customer car park, meanwhile, will continue to be served by the previously approved access to the garment from Villa Wood Road.
The proposals will now be advertised shortly.
