Planning refused for 37-bed aparthotel in Liberties due to ‘over concentration’ of hotels
How the proposed 37-bed aparthotel on Francis Street could have looked
Planning permission has been refused for a 37-bed aparthotel in the Liberties in Dublin .
Dublin City Council refused the application on the grounds that “the propos ed development would exacerbate the existing over-concentration of tourist and visitor accommodation in the area”.
The proposed development sits on the corner of 92-93 Francis Street and 1-3 Mark’s Alley West, Dublin 8.
Part of the site, now vacant, was once The Barley Mow pub. This structure was removed in 2021 due to a dangerous building order issued by Dublin City Council.
The development included the demolition of two buildings at 2 and 3, Mark’s Alley West, which are in “severely dilapidated condition”, according to planning documents.
The application was submitted by Peninsula Suite Holdings. It included building a four-storey aparthotel consisting of a ground floor cafe/community space with 37 rooms above.
The planning report said the development would be “detrimental” to the objection of “providing a rich and vibrant range of uses in the city centre including residential, social, cultural and economic functions”.
It also said the buildings located at 2-3 Mark’s Alley West “contribute positively” to the character of the area and are historic structures dating from 1847.
“The applicant has failed to justify their demolition and has not provided a Demolition Justification Report, nor addressed the proposed demolition in their Energy Impact Statement, and no attempt has been made by the applicant to justify their demolition in spite of City Development Plan policy to retain and re-use older buildings,” said a planning officer.
