Popular Waterford restaurant granted permission for outdoor seating upgrade
The Azzurro Restaurant in Dunmore East has got the go-ahead for the upgrade at its premises
A popular restaurant in County Waterford has been granted permission for the upgrading of its outdoor seating facilities.
The Azzurro Restaurant in Dunmore East has got the go-ahead for the upgrade at its premises on Dock Road.
The development will see the construction of two glazed structures which will enclose the existing outdoor dining areas.
These areas are located to the front and side facades of the existing restaurant building.
The dining area to the front of the building will have a total floor area of 76.65 square metres.
Meanwhile, the side of the building will have a total floor area of 17.85 square metres.
Both areas will be enclosed by clear structural glazing with stainless steel fitted to a black painted structure internally.
A number of steel posts will also be erected to support the structure of the seating areas.
The application was submitted by the restaurant owner, Adriano Cavaliere, on November 7, 2025.
Waterford City and County Council granted permission for the development on January 10 of this year.
However, a local resident later launched an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
The appellant argued that the development is excessive for the site and its capacity for servicing and therefore constitutes overdevelopment.
They argued that this is evident by the lack of car parking and the absence of adequate refuse storage facilities.
The appellant also said that the development would allow for some 70 extra patrons to eat and dine outside the restaurant, with increased noise and odours emanating.
As well as that, they pointed out that the building is a protected structure due to its historical use as a Royal Irish Constabulary barracks.
These arguments were noted by An Coimisiún Pleanála inspector Suzanne Kehely in her report.
In her report, Ms Kehely agreed with the appellant that the proposed development “would adversely impact” on the character of the building.
She also argued that the upgraded outdoor seating areas “would give rise to a significant intensification of use of a licenced premises”.
Ms Kehely subsequently recommended that An Coimisiún Pleanála overturn the council’s decision and refuse permission for the development.
However, the commission chose to ignore this recommendation and granted permission for the development on May 22.
In its decision, the commission said that it “did not share the opinion of the inspector that the proposed external terrace areas would have a negative impact on the character and the form of the protected structure, and on the streetscape”.
It also argued that the increased use of the premises would not adversely impact the surrounding area, given the long-established restaurant use of the property.