THE decision last week to grant permission for a new Cork hotel underlines the huge growth the sector is going through in the city centre at the moment.

More than 1,300 hotel beds are currently planned or already under construction in the city, with further proposals for new hostels, aparthotels and even a floating hotel.

The Maldron Hotel on South Mall and Parnell Place will be the first of the new wave of Cork hotels to open.

Construction is well on the way towards completion by Christmas time this year.

With 163 rooms, two restaurants, a bar, a cafe and six conference rooms of varying size, it is hoped the hotel will drive significant footfall to the area.

Six stories high, with another two below ground level, the hotel is the latest offering in the Dalata Hotel Group’s growing Cork portfolio and recruitment is already underway for new staff.

Last week, An Bord Pleanála granted permission for a 220-room hotel on Sullivan’s Quay on the site of the former tax office. The developers Bam have already demolished the former office and are now free to begin construction of the 12-storey cylindrical hotel and office development. The company said they have already secured an operator to run the premises once it is complete.

Developers Clarendon is building a major new office development on Horgan’s Quay close to Kent Station called HQ. It will include a 136-bed hotel with a rooftop garden.

Across the road on Penrose Quay, planning permission is in place for a floating hotel to be docked at the quay.

Sick and Sore Ltd plan to open the hotel and restaurant on a 105m vessel which previously operated as a luxury cruise ship on the River Rhine.

It has three decks containing 87 cabins, lounge areas, a sun deck and restaurant.

On MacCurtain Street, the Metropole is planning a major expansion of their historic premises.

It will add a further 195 rooms through a new boutique hotel facing Patrick’s Quay.

Across the street from the Metropole, planning has been granted for a 73-room hotel in the Victorian Quarter.

The development is planned for the corner of MacCurtain Street and York Street on the site of the Windsor Inn.

On the western side of the city, the Kingsley Hotel has approval to add an extra 63 rooms to their premises while in the city centre The Imperial Hotel is planning an extra eight rooms.

The budget accommodation sector also has a number of potential new developments in Cork.

Permission is in place to convert the nightclub above the Brick Lane Bar on South Main Street into a 16-bed hostel.

A four-storey tourist accommodation building is planned for Fitton Street, off Father Mathew Street that will accommodate 193 beds, if approved.

Also in the city centre plans have been lodged to change the former Classic Bar on Marlboro street into a 29-bed hotel.

In 2016 Cork City Council sold two buildings on Parnell Place, previously occupied by Mahers Sports and Flor Griffin, to a Dublin company who have interests in a number of hotels and have plans to develop a boutique hotel and budget hostel.