The green light has been given for a €35 million development that includes a new 117-bedroom hotel on Dublin’s Dawson Street.
This follows Dublin City Council granting the go-ahead to the hotel plan which also includes the redevelopment of the Royal Irish Automobile Club’s (RIAC) private members’ facility.
The project is being led by Tetrarch Capital that counts the Marker Hotel and the Citywest Hotel in its portfolio.
Tetrarch firm, Miro Hotel 2 Ltd, purchased the Dawson hotel on Nos 35-36 Dawson Street & Anne’s Lane.
The RIAC is located next door at nos 33-34 Dawson Street and the plan reconfigures the headquarters of the RIAC and creates the 117-bedroom hotel.
Established in 1901, the RIAC is a private members’ club and it currently provides its members with two restaurants, a bar and a reading room along with a substantial library.
Recommending that planning permission be granted, the council’s planner’s report stated that “the proposal is welcomed and, given the location of the site and the surrounding context, the proposed scheme is deemed to be acceptable”.
The report stated that overall “the development provides for a modern and stylish contemporary structure in an historic area of the inner city and the proposal forms an active frontage onto Anne’s Lane which is likely to create footfall and vibrancy in the locality”.
The report added that “broadly the proposal is considered a significant improvement on the existing building and its modern/contemporary design appears to reference the historic fabric of the streetscape yet is appropriately scaled and designed in its setting”.
The planner’s report found that “the proposed development will provide a valuable asset for Dublin and accords with both the city development plan and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.
The redevelopment – designed by architects, McCauley Daye O’Connell – is intended to guarantee the long-term future of the club.
The build is expected to take two years.