Cork Co. Council is to go ahead with a Part 8 planning application for the development of Mallow Town Hall into a major local amenity centre. The news was revealed at the monthly meeting of Kanturk Mallow Municipal District last Monday, where Cllr Gearóid Murphy had sought a progress report on the matter. The councillor was told that the plan will be available for public viewing and submissions before a final decision is made. Speaking to the Mallow Star after the meeting, Cllr Murphy said that while it was good news that the council was proceeding with the Part 8 application, it would probably take several years before work could start because funding would have to be secured.
It is understood that the plan for the development of the town hall is broadly similar to the plan from a few years ago, which envisaged the historic building housing a theatre, community rooms and art spaces. At the time funding was granted for redevelopment but it is said that the cost would have been twice the sum received, so the town hall plan was long-fingered and the money was instead diverted to the Mallow Bridge boardwalk project.