New 130-bed Dublin hotel approved despite rival's warning over 'saturation point'
Seán McCárthaigh
Planning permission has been granted for a new 130-bed hotel in Dublin’s north inner city, despite objections from a nearby hotel operator which claimed the proposed development would impact its economic viability.
An Coimisiún Pleanála upheld Dublin City Council's decision to approve an application from M Y Talbot Properties to demolish an existing two-storey building on Store Street and construct a new eight-storey hotel on the 0.11-hectare site, part of which is owned by CIÉ.
The Commission said the proposed development would add to the vibrancy of the local area.
It rejected an appeal by the Beresford Hotel, which is also located on Store Street.
The Commission said it was satisfied that the development would not lead to an overconcentration of hotel rooms in the area and would be acceptable in terms of design and height.
A planning inspector with An Coimisiún Pleanála said commercial viability and competition were not material planning considerations in the case.
In its appeal, the Beresford Hotel said it was a long-established three-star hotel with 107 rooms that provided permanent local employment and made a sustained contribution to the economic and social life of the north inner city.
“Permitting a new hotel of a comparable scale within a few metres of the Beresford would have a direct injurious impact on the viability of the existing business,” it claimed.
The general manager of the Beresford, Marek Jozwiak, said an unhealthy trend had emerged in the north inner city area, where an increasing number of hotels were being converted into emergency accommodation.
Jozwiak said the trend clearly demonstrated that the area had reached saturation point in terms of hotels, with existing stock no longer being sustained by normal tourism and business demand.
“Such conversions are unhealthy and indicative of an oversupply of hotels,” he added.
M Y Talbot Properties said the new hotel would provide up to 45 full and part-time jobs when operational.
It said research showed there were 12 hotels and 12 guesthouses, as well as one aparthotel and eight hostels, within 500 metres of the proposed site.
However, the company said only six of the 12 hotels are both Fáilte Ireland-approved and currently open to the public.
