Latenight Dining Al Fresco At Meridian Gets Cooked

Getting there…

aving been granted planning approval way back in October 2024, work on the bigger, brighter, cooler Meridian Point is now finally nearing completion.

And it would appear that the owners have gotten just about everything they had hoped for.

Well, almost everything, their application for a little latenight dining al fresco on the shopping centre square having been refused by Wicklow County Council, citing concerns over the noise levels for the neighbours.

Still, the builders have been busy bees adding a new central kiosk for two new restaurants and an outdoor covered pergola area with seating, and the centre’s new private owners, BDM Property (who paid €7m+ for the Greystones shopping centre in 2024), have now been granted extended opening hours for the new food kiosks. You just can’t take it outside, people.

The original planning application no.221266 and its slight changes (no.2462502) read…

Amendments to the permission granted by Wicklow County Council under WCC Reg Ref. 22/1266 as follows: Removal of the 2 no. permitted toilet facilities to be replaced with staff changing facilities. Rearrangement of the permitted plant room area, 2 no. plant rooms are now provided. Changes to signage provided as follows: rearrangement of 2 no. tenant signs provided for the kiosk units and 1 no. cut out illuminated sign on the roof of the pergola and provision of 1 no. digital totem sign and 6 no. digital screens. The provided covered seating area is now enclosed by glass screens. The roof plan has been extended to cover the kiosk counter areas. Kiosks and pergolas provided within the site have been relocated to avoid existing underground services which require access to be maintained. Trees have been relocated within the site boundary. Planters have been removed to accommodate the proposed glass screens enclosing the seating areas, and benches have been added along the western façade of the kiosks. The western façade of the kiosk units has undergone changes to facilitate the revised internal design of the kiosk units and all associated hard and soft landscaping, site works and services above and below ground on a site area of c. 570 sq.m to facilitate the proposed amendments.

Trading as GSC Meridian Ltd, the new application requested that the 8pm closing time for their two food kiosks be moved to 10pm, which was granted. Only without permission for people to sit in the new outdoor seating area after 8pm.

Wicklow County Council had sought further information in April on the potential impact of customer noise, latenight socialising and possible anti-social behaviour for nearby residents. The Meridian gang duly commissioned a noise report, which found that the late opening hours would be unlikely to have any adverse impact and would comply with recognised noise standards. They also argued that the later opening hours were crucial to make the units commercially viable.

Nonetheless, Wicklow County Council felt that latenight dining in the area would have an adverse impact. Especially since it could attract groups of young people, potentially leading to that noise level rising considerably. And then some more.

You can check out the new plans, and maybe even get yourself a new HQ, right over here.

You can also find out more about Meridian Point here, follow on Instagram here or Facebook here, and get in touch online right here.