New café and flats planned for site of former chemists on the Strand Road in Derry

THE city centre’s culinary offering is to expand again with the opening of a new café at the site of a former chemists in Derry, it had emerged.

Work is currently underway at 57 Strand Road on the new café, which was previously occupied by H. Sweeny Chemist (pictured above).

Plans have now been lodged with Derry City and Strabane District Council by the locally-based Art Glass Ltd for the change of use of the building from ground floor retail to a café with part first floor preparation area, and a single storey rear extension.

The planning application also includes provision for the transformation of the upper floors of the building which will see the change of use from first and second floor offices to two new apartments and a replacement two storey mews dwelling at the rear boundary of the site.

The Strand Road has recently suffered mixed fortunes in terms of development, with the closure of Pier 59 restaurant, and more recently, The Sandwich Company.

However, Primrose recently opened a flagship outlet on the Strand Road, which was recently named in the Sunday Times list of top 100 restaurants in Ireland.

The application, which was lodged on January 30, is expected to come before a future meeting of the local council’s Planning Committee for decision.