Proposed Parnell Place hotel "overbearing and intrusive" 

NOISE, air quality, road safety, parking and privacy have all been cited by residents objecting to the proposed new hotel on Parnell Place.

Objections lodged to City Hall describe the proposal as ‘overbearing and intrusive’.

Dublin company Tetrarch Capital is seeking permission to redevelop 7 to 9 Parnell Place to create a 165-bedroom hotel. The buildings were previously occupied by Flor Griffin and Maher Sports.

The application also involves the demolition of buildings to the rear of the premises facing onto Deane Street where the entrance to the hotel will be located.

A historic laneway that previously existed between the two buildings, linking Parnell Place to Deane Street, will also be reinstated.

Local residents, living on lower Oliver Plunkett Street have made objections to the proposed development saying it would have a negative impact on the historical context of the area.

The residents also feel it would affect noise and air quality as well as road safety, parking availability and access while causing increased traffic and disrupting road capacity.

An objection stated the “mass, bulk and proximity of the rear and corner elevations of the development would present an overbearing and intrusive element to us as adjoining neighbours.”

Another said the five-story element of the proposed development would “demonstrably harm the existing amenities enjoyed by us in our valuable rear garden and yard space, our privacy and our right to enjoy a safe residential environment.”

Residents said that they had hoped for “a more balanced mixed-use development incorporating retail, housing and hotel space.”

In the planning application, Tetrarch said there is an acute undersupply of budget hotels in Dublin and Cork.

“Branded budget hotels make up approximately 21% of total hotel bedroom stock in London and approximately 28% in Edinburgh.

“In Dublin and Cork, the percentage of such stock is currently less than 5% currently and the applicant projects that this will rise to approximately 7% with the delivery of the new hotel stock anticipated in both cities.”

Developer John Cleary and contractors BAM have offered their support to the project. Mr Cleary said the proposed scheme is “architecturally very impressive” and he also said he thought the additional beds, as well as the proposed restaurant and bar, will be important commercial additions to the city.

In a letter to Cork City Council, BAM also said the architectural element was of a high quality which would add to the streetscape of Cork and the extra accommodation was “badly needed.”

Tetrarch also said that 200 jobs would be created during construction, with 100 full and part-time jobs once it is complete.

The buildings facing Parnell Place are protected structures and they will be maintained but renovated for hotel use.