Planning granted for city centre hotel

Dublin Corporation has served notice of its intention to grant planning permission for another major hotel on a site just off O'Connell Street. The 221-bedroom hotel will cost about £30 million and will occupy an island site bounded by Parnell Street, Moore Street, O'Rahilly Lane and Moore Lane. An international hotel chain is expected to manage the hotel under a contract with the developer, Garret Kelleher, of Shelbourne Developments. The hotel will have 84,000 sq ft of retail space along with a hotel bar beside the hotel entrance. The reception and lounge areas will be located at first-floor level, as well as a restaurant and leisure centre. The bedrooms will be in the four upper floors, including penthouse level. There will be 124 carparking spaces on two levels in the basement for the use of guests. The one-acre site was assembled from more than 20 owners over the past two years. Much of the site is derelict. Part of it is occupied by the old Hanlons Smokehouse, a sweet factory, several shops, a bar and a car-park.