Revamp of Royal Marine HotelThe Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, has been granted permission for a major revamp.
Wm Neville & Sons plans to refurbish and extend the hotel, which is a protected structure. The hotel will ris e to seven stories and will have 237 bedrooms - there are 108 at present.
The new-look Royal Marine will have a lounge, two bars, two restaurants, four function rooms, three retail units and a leisure centre with a gym, swimming pool and sauna.
It will also have five treatment rooms and changing rooms. The plan involves the reinstatement of the original mansard roof, and includes a central tower. A five-storey extension at Haigh Terrace, linked to main hotel, will have 75 bedrooms and there will be a 24-bed extension with access to Georges Street Upper.
Rathgar scheme raises concerns
Rathgar residents have appealed planning permission granted for a scheme of 27 apartments by Brian M Durkan & Co Ltd at 59 Orwell Park and Orwell Bank .
Five appeals have been lodged, including one from the Orwell Walk Residents Group who say the River Dodder should be protected from the "disturbances and intrusions" of adjacent development. It says that the south end of the site falls within the curtilage of the Dodder Conservation area and that a tree bond of €100,000 is "a pittance in comparison to the property value of 27 newly completed apartments in the area of south Dublin".
Describing this as one of most sensitive and scenic areas along the linear walk from Ringsend to Rathfarnham, it's suggested that "a three-storey modern development perched on the edge of this wonderful scenic amenity is to envisage its ruin".
Other concerns by appellants include excessive density, inappropriate design, scale and bulk and that the new scheme would be visually intrusive.
Museum updates disabled access
The Pearse Museum on Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, is looking to revamp its premises in order to offer better disabled access.
This would involve building a new reception area to the west of the main house and demolishing a 1970s stair block and replacing it with a new one.
The proposed changes will also involve the provision of a lift in the courtyard building to the rear of the house and ancillary works to the house to provide disabled access .
