Leonardo Hotel seeks to add bedrooms to city centre property

Planning permission has been sought for a major revamp of an inner city hotel.

The application, submitted to Cork City Council by Pandox Group DAC, is seeking permission to partially demolish and restructure the Leonardo Hotel on Anderson’s Quay, which was formerly Jury's Inn.

The proposed plans would see developers demolish the existing windowed section of the hotel, at its northern and eastern elevation on the corner of Anderson’s Quay and Custom House Street.

The demolition would make way for the construction of a new five-storey extension, which would include several minor adjustments to the entrance and reception area of the premises.

Eight bedrooms

The extension would provide additional reception and foyer space, a new access ramp, and an additional eight bedrooms.

The new bedrooms would be situated on levels one through four.

The plans would also see new illuminated internal signage installed, as well as external signage, and all associated site development and drainage works.

The application comes just over a month after city council planners gave the green light for another five-storey extension at the hotel, on the western side of the building.

This approved extension will provide the hotel with an additional 20 bedrooms, a new staff canteen, a linen room, a switch room, and a new rooftop plant area.

A partially enclosed external service yard will also be added.

If the city council’s planning department approves this latest application, the number of bedrooms at the hotel will increase to more than 160.

As the premises currently has 133 rooms, the two extensions will mark a significant expansion of the building’s accommodation capacity.

Cork City Council is due to make a decision on the latest extension application by November 5.