The development will consist of: Protected Structure the conservation, refurbishment and renewal of the existing St Marys Pro-Cathedral, three storeys over basement crypt, retaining its use as a place of public worship for religious purposes. St Marys Pro-Cathedral is a Protected Structure, reference RPS 5034, and is sited within the O’Connell Street Architectural Conservation Area. The proposal retains the existing use of the building and provides upgraded spaces for use as a public worship space and supporting ancillary spaces including sacristy, offices, repository, staff facilities, choir practice facilities, display and storage facilities, and a crypt. To facilitate the works, demolitions are required, including the single storey 1970s boys sacristy and staff WC extension to the north (44m2), the single storey 1930s raised corridor linking the sacristy and presbytery to the north (26m2), external podium and associated boundary wall to the south-east to facilitate a new external stepped entrance, and internal demolitions to facilitate new layout as illustrated within the application. The conservation and refurbishment work to St Marys Pro-Cathedral will include the following: Internal Works: Reconfiguration of the main Cathedral space including sanctuary area restoration of decorative mosaic floor and replacement of plain mosaic floor with new stone floor finish to remaining areas replacement of floor to sanctuary area including reconfigured steps new retractable platform lift to sanctuary area repositioning of existing ecclesiastical furnishings within the building including the baptismal font, altar table, former tabernacle, pulpit, cathedra, ambo new ecclesiastical furnishings to sanctuary area restoration, alteration, reuse and repurposing of existing fixtures and furnishings within the building including the historic pews, balustrading between the columns, confessionals, kneelers, shrines, statues and plaques and other features as described in the submission new chapel to serve as the Place of Reservation with new tabernacle refurbished Place of Reconciliation new internal accessible ramp within north corridor linking the main Cathedral space and Presbytery House new Cathedral Repository within south aisle alterations and new openings to existing structure as required to facilitate new configuration new accessible passenger lift to the south-west area serving ground, first and second floors new internal accessible stair to the north-west area serving ground, first and second floors new internal stair to the north-west area serving ground and crypt floors providing an alternative means of escape from the crypt level alterations to the first floor encompassing structural upgrade works and fire safety improvements alterations to the second floor including reconfigured spaces, construction of new partitions to increase accommodation encompassing structural upgrade works alterations and restoration of existing windows and doors new and upgraded sanitary facilities at ground, first and second floor levels fire safety upgrades including new or upgraded fire doors and lobby enclosures new mechanical and electrical services to meet current standards consolidation of existing fabric including walls, floors, ceilings, and internal fittings External Work : Repairs to existing external envelope including upgrading of roof covering, upgrading of existing roof lights and provision of new rooflights, modification of the roof valley to the south-west to accommodate the new lift overrun restoration of existing chimneys, lanterns, overground rainwater goods, and all associated structural repairs required new fall restraint system to roof area new photovoltaics to select roofs restoration of the bell and associated supporting structure localised stone repair, localised repointing and localised cleaning of facades restoration and cleaning of the statues to the front east elevation at pediment level new single storey flat roof extension to the east of the existing sacristy forming staff WCs and flower room (18m2) to include new roof lights and new external hardwood door new single storey flat roof extension to the north of the Cathedral forming a new chapel to serve as the Place of Reservation with new windows subject to specialist artist design (29m2) repair and restoration of existing windows and doors replacement of window to the north-west to allow for a new glazed automatic opening vent (AOV) renewal of existing external lighting and new replica lanterns to top of historic railings to south and east boundaries repositioning of external statue on podium to the south-east provision of new statue at podium level by artist replacement wayfinding signage to the podium alteration to the podium and associated boundary wall and railing to the south-east to facilitate a new external stepped entrance and associated gate re-surfacing of select areas of the podium level replacing concrete surface with stone paving re-cladding of south boundary wall to existing external ramp off Cathedral Street repairs, re-pointing and cleaning of the boundary wall to the podium restoration of the existing railings partial re-surfacing of the rear courtyard including new hard and soft landscaping retention of 4 no. existing staff car parking spaces and provision of 4 no. new staff cycle spaces which is accessed directly from Thomas Lane renewal of drainage and water connections and all associated ancillary works on a site area of circa 0.3 hectares.
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