A 142-bedroom in hotel has been given the go-ahead in Howth.
Fingal County Council has signed off on a four-storey building on the grounds of the former Deer Park Hotel in Howth.
The new hotel will be situated in the Howth Estate, and will feature a rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace, function area, spa, fitness centre, and a swimming pool.
Planning permission was granted by the council but on a number of conditions, namely the omission of a proposed access road to the site.
The original request called for the construction of an access road from St Mary’s Church to the hotel, but this was not included in the final planning permission.
An objection was made by parishioners of St Mary’s Church said the roadway between the Deer Park entrance at Howth Road and the church is “not in the developer’s ownership or control.”
The parishioners said that the proposed opening of the cul-de-sac would have a “severe and adverse effect on St Mary’s Church.”
“What is now a quiet location with a long-standing sense of history, used by parishioners, many community associations, and a Montessori school would be transformed into a busy and noisy roadway,” they said.
Local Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan made a submission during the submissions process, saying that he welcomed the development of the hotel, but “strongly opposed” the new road.
“Given the existing road that provides access, there is simply no justification for the building of a new road through these high amenity lands,” he said.
In a previous report by Fingal County Council, the planner said the scale of the road had been “excessive” and requested additional documentation to clarify the ownership of the section of the road.
A submission was entered on behalf of the Howth and Sutton Community Council, noting that during the pandemic-era lockdowns, the castle and the lands surrounding it were a”valuable outdoor recreational resource for the residents of Howth and visitors to the area.”
“The loss of this amenity would result in public health implications for the residents of Howth and the surrounding areas,” it said.
The submission stated that while the proposed development would attract more visitors to the area, it would bring more traffic with it, and it would add “serious pressure from traffic congestion.”
It was also noted that the planned development would be inconsistent with the Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029, noting that the land falls under the Howth Special Amenity Area Order, and the Council had given assurances that the lands would be preserved and not used for what it calls “inappropriate development.”
The hotel development was granted permission, subject to 19 conditions including the access road being omitted with a revised site layout, and a reduction of parking spaces on the site.
According to the manager’s report, the development would “integrate appropriately within the established context without undue impact to the historical, visual, and residential amenities of the area.”