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The An Post branch will continue to operate on the ground floor. Google Maps

New 111-bedroom hotel in Dublin city centre approved by An Bord Pleanála

An Bord Pleanála rejected its own inspector’s recommendation not to grant planning permission.

A NEW 111-BEDROOM hotel in Dublin city centre has been given the greenlight to be constructed, despite initially being refused.

Appalachian Property Holdings Ltd plans to change the use of three floors at an office block on St Andrew’s St, Dublin 2 to hotel usage and construct six new storeys. 

An Bord Pleanála moved to approve the plans, despite it’s own inspector recommending that permission be rejected. Dublin City Council issued a refusal order against the new hotel, which was recently overturned by an appeals board.

Under the plans, operations of an An Post branch, on the ground floor, will continue. The site is located less than 500 metres from College Green and Grafton St in the city centre.

Officials from the local authority denied the plans last year, citing the ongoing housing crisis, national development policy and the clear direction of the current development plans for the area for its reasoning.

Dublin City Council also cited existing development schemes, promoting mixed-use projects with a focus on the construction of residential units. It said the changes to the building did not represent the best use of the upper floors at the, partially, vacant site.

An appeals board disagreed, concluding that the plans go-ahead for the hotel, the bar and the restaurant, along with the retention of the retail space at ground floor level. It said, under those plans, it would support the vitality and vibrancy of the mixed use setting.

Appalachian Property Holdings contested in the appeal that the site is located in the centre of a commercial and tourism hub of the city, arguing that it is highly suitable for a hotel.

The inspector in the case, Patricia M Young recommended refusal after concluding that the proposed works would due to their extent, nature, level of intervention, would have a detrimental and irreversible impact on the essential qualities of the period building,

Young concluded that the works would materially affecting its special character and its appreciation as part of the rich collection of period buildings that front onto the northern side of St Andrew’s Street.

An Bord Pleánala, in determining its decision to not accept its own inspector’s recommendation, said it did not consider that the proposed works to the building, which is a protected structure, would have a detrimental and irreversible impact on the essential qualities of the building.

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    Mute LoyalIrish Citizen
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    Jan 20th 2012, 10:15 PM

    Its an awful shame that they choose to back down.

    Standing up for sovereignty is a worth while fight.

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    Mute eoghandee
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    Jan 20th 2012, 10:32 PM

    The current Hungarian government is running an authoritarian regime, the issue isnt about sovereignty, its about democracy and human rights, they have made numerous recent laws eg. criminalizing homeless people, control of media etc..

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    Mute LoyalIrish Citizen
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    Jan 20th 2012, 11:02 PM

    @eoghandee: How do you criminalizing homeless people? What would they do stick them in jail, give them a warm bed and 3 meals a day?

    Some media needs controlling. Irish Media for decades has always been the puppets of politicians. This sort of media is breaking down barriers and opening up the media for people.

    I still think it is a good thing that some countries take a stance and say no the Europe a little more often.

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    Mute Rob McDonagh
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    Jan 21st 2012, 2:17 PM

    I apologise if this sounds condescending, but I think if you read up on what the Hungarian govt has done in the last few months you’d be cheering for Europe here. The new constitution pretty much outlaws opposition parties, along with securing govt control of the press, judiciary and monetary system. The sort of stuff that Hitler might be proud of.

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    Mute LoyalIrish Citizen
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    Jan 21st 2012, 6:18 PM

    @Rob McDonagh: Any chance of pointing me in the right direction of some newspaper article or other material?

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    Mute Csaba Farkas
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    Jan 23rd 2012, 7:13 PM

    Ok, could someone explain to me what is wrong with the current Hungarian constitution? It`s quite interesting the EU didn`t have any problems with the previous one as it was written in 1947 when Hungary was ruled by cruel communists. Read it and then judge it if you`d like. Or you can follow the mainstream media and believe their lies. Here it is in English:

    http://www.kormany.hu/download/4/c3/30000/THE%20FUNDAMENTAL%20LAW%20OF%20HUNGARY.pdf

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