City planners have told the developer behind plans for a new 140-bedroom hotel in Bohermore to go back to the drawing board after branding the design “overbearing” and saying it would have a negative impact on its surrounds.
The city’s Chief Fire Officer has also raised concerns in relation to health and safety.
In February, Salthill-based Georgina O’Mahony of Highgate Properties sought permission to demolish the former Shannon Dry Cleaners and adjoining properties to make way for the development.
It was to include a two, three and four-storey hotel over lower ground floor level in two blocks fronting onto Bohermore and the rear of the site.
The plans included 139 bedrooms, reception area, dining area, two bars and office space, while the disused Galway-Clifden railway tunnel – which runs under part of the site – was to be used as a lounge with overhead café/bar.
However, planners have ordered a redesign of the proposals as they would contravene the City Development Plan standards for plot ratios in an area where a transition is being made from city centre to an established residential area.
“The applicant is asked to revisit the overall scale and design concept and submit revised proposals.
“It is considered that the design/visual appearance of the proposed hotel, with particular regard to the front and side (north) elevations, gives rise to an overbearing expression onto the streetscape and establishes little relationship with the surrounding urban fabric, greatly detracting from the character of the area.
“It is considered that the use of architectural features, such as expansive blank gables . . . provide for a negative impact on visual amenity in the context of the character of the street and the setting of the protected structure located at No. 86 Bohermore,” planners said.
They also asked the developer to re-visit the size of the opening for vehicular access to see if it could be reduced to lessen the negative impact onto the street.
Planners also sought a Mobility Management Plan as there was a minimal amount of parking proposed, and to explain how this would work in the context of patrons, staff, servicing and persons who are disabled.
Mrs O’Mahony has also been ordered to liaise with the Chief Fire Officer, who raised concerns in relation to public health and safety.
She was also asked to clarify if any additional consent is needed from Irish Rail to carry out work on the former railway tunnel.
The application has received the backing of Eugene Keville, the owner of the nearby Western Hotel, who said: “I feel it will be a fantastic development for the whole area and something that is very much needed to help enhance commerce in the area, as well as providing quality accommodation for tourists and a large number of jobs.”
Publican Peadar Tonery said Bohermore is in desperate need of such a development.
“With the closure of eleven businesses in our area, Bohermore is in desperate need of this. I speak to many local people on a daily basis and the level of support from them is huge,” Mr Tonery said in his submission to planners.
Breda Crowe of Crowe’s Bar supported what she termed as the regeneration and revitalisation of the area, and said the site is more suitable as a hotel than its previous industrial use.
SIPTU, which has carpark access between 66 and 64 Hill objected to the application on the grounds that only 11 parking spaces for the hotel would negatively affect their premises, and cause considerable delays to staff and the public visiting their premises.
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