An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for a 34-room boutique hotel in Galway city centre, involving the demolition of two derelict buildings on Nun’s Island (buildings No 26 and No 34).
The proposed hotel will be three-storeys high with a part-basement and cover an area of 1239 sqm.
Features of the hotel include a balcony on the first floor, which can be accessed from Nun’s Island Street and a secondary pedestrian-only entrance from the waterside laneway to the rear, accompanied by landscaping that incorporates an internal courtyard.
The project faced an appeal by the owners of building No 25, who raised concerns about the impact of the basement level on their property’s stability, and objected to the modern design conflicting with the existing street’s style and materials. They also mentioned increased traffic and limited parking in the Nun’s Island area.
In November 2023, An Bord Pleanála upheld the decision of Galway City Council and approved the hotel project with 21 revised conditions. The conditions include measures to conserve the archaeological heritage of the site, conduct a full architectural survey of the buildings to be demolished, and submit a construction methodology statement ensuring the protection of neighbouring structures.
