A former university residence on Hatch Street in Dublin 2 is likely to be turned into apartments following a decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse permission for a five-star hotel at the listed building.
Galway property developer Gerry Barrett sought permission for a boutique hotel development at the former student residence but the board said the changes required to turn it into a hotel would involve altering the protected structure to an "unacceptable" level. A proposed seven-storey addition to the hall would be "visually obtrusive" the board said.
Expressing disappointment at the decision, Barrett said it would be a "huge loss for Dublin", adding that "it's a shame that the building will now not be in public use".
He said he would take note of what the board said and would be shortly lodging a planning application for a residential scheme at the site. Taking into account the current ruling from the board, it's likely that around 30 apartments could be developed at the university residence, which was run by the Jesuits for 90 years.
The building has a floor area of about 2,787sq m (30,000sq ft) and fronts onto pretty gardens and a courtyard off Hatch Street.
Barrett's Edward Holdings was seeking permission to develop an 81-bedroom hotel at the site, more than doubling the size of the current building.
The scheme, designed by Douglas Wallace Architects, involved adding two storeys to the four-storey building along Hatch Lane and the provision of a swimming pool at basement level.
It would also have seen the demolition of a section of the three/four-storey building at the junction of Hatch Lane and Hatch Place and replacing it with a seven-storey structure.
In refusing permission, An Bord Pleanála overturned a decision by Dublin City Council to grant approval for the hotel scheme.
The council's decision was appealed to the planning board by the owners of the nearby Leeson Hotel on Lower Leeson Street and another neighbour, Fr P Carberry SJ.
Barrett bought the hall for over €16 million in 2004. Currently the building is laid out in 80 bedrooms and is a hostel for asylum seekers.
