Johnny Ronan firm secures planning for 288-bedroom aparthotel in Dublin's docklands
Gordon Deegan
Dublin City Council has given the green light to plans by Johnny Ronan’s RGRE for an eight-storey, 288-bedroom aparthotel in Dublin's docklands, to be operated by hotel operator Staycity.
Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE) firm Waterside Block 9 Developments Ltd had previously secured planning permission for an office block on the site at Waterfront South Central, City Block No. 9, North Wall Quay and Mayor Street Upper, Dublin 1.
In March, the firm lodged plans for the aparthotel.
In the Council planning report recommending the planning permission be granted, it states that “the proposed change of use from office to aparthotel at this location is unlikely to negatively impact on the amenities of the area and is acceptable in accordance with the Special Development Zone (SDZ) Scheme”.
No objections were lodged against the scheme for a site located between the National Convention Centre and the 3Arena.
A submission lodged with the planning application confirmed that the proposal is designed for operation by Staycity as part of its “Wilde” brand.
The submission explained that Staycity is an Irish-owned international aparthotel operator and is Europe’s fastest growing Aparthotel provider operating 8,000+ Aparthotel rooms in 21 cities, with 45 current / contracted properties.
The proposal involves the provision of a flexible “black box” space to accommodate evening and night-time uses and in one of 17 conditions attached to the permission, the Council has ordered that the 'black box' space is to be used for small scale performance, theatre, and music for evening and night time activities.
The Council states that the 'black box' space shall be fully accessible to the public.
The Council has also ordered the applicants to pay €1.54 million towards public infrastructure and €481,992 towards the LUAS C1 Line Scheme.
A planning report drawn up by Tom Phillips + Associates for the applicants stated that the apart-hotel scheme will operate in a controlled and managed manner and will not give rise to unacceptable impacts on neighbouring amenity
A separate Visitor Accommodation Audit found that there is no existing over-concentration of aparthotel visitor accommodation use in the site’s vicinity, nor will the proposed development give rise to such an over-concentration, “with just nine existing hotels and one aparthotel within 1km of the subject site”.
The report contended that the proposed development would assist in the creation of a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood, at a key regeneration site within Dublin City.
The report stated that therefore the proposed development “will not alter the balance between residential, social, cultural, or economic functions in this part of the city”.
The Tom Phillips + Associates planning report stated that the proposal represents a reduction in overall massing and basement intensity relative to the previously permitted office scheme for the site
