An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for the third hotel proposal in Dublin within weeks, rejecting the plan by Derek Murtagh for an 81-bedroom hotel in Portobello.
This refusal follows two failed attempts by Sretaw Hotel Group to secure planning for hotels near St Stephen’s Green and Baggot Street Lower, citing concerns over the impact on the area’s architectural character.
The board deemed Murtagh’s hotel proposal excessive in scale and design, which would disrupt the traditional streetscape and negatively affect the setting of a Protected Structure.
Concerns were raised about residential amenity, including potential overbearance, noise, and lack of access to daylight for adjoining properties.
An Bord Pleanála ruled
- insufficient provisions for public facilities, stating that the development failed to demonstrate the feasibility of attracting street-level activity.
- ruled the proposal would result in overdevelopment of the site and would negatively impact the setting of the Protected Structure.
- notwithstanding the revised scheme of reduced scale, it was not satisfied the proposed development would not seriously injure the residential amenities of the opposing properties on Liberty Lane by reason of overbearance, overlooking, potential noise and disturbance and access to daylight and sunlight.
- was not satisfied that the proposed development would provide an adequate level of public facilities such as a cafe, restaurant and bar uses to generate activity at street level throughout the day and night.
- was not satisfied the operational management was adequately demonstrated as feasible in the absence of the provision of a designated loading bay off road.
