Planning permission is being sought for the constructions of a new hotel in Galway City Centre, down by the docks, with 186 bedrooms.
Plans have been submitted by Summix BNM Developments to the city council to demolish a vacant industrial building on Lough Atalia Road next to Forthill Cemetery.
It is then proposed to build a hotel on the site at the junction of Lough Atalia Road and Bothar na Long, partially three storeys tall and part 11 storeys high, with a total of 186 bedrooms.
The development will also include a rooftop bar and function area, as well as a restaurant, and a coffee bar in the three storey pavilion area fronting onto the street.
Summix also proposes to carry out “localised repair and rebuilding of the shared boundary wall with Forthill cemetery” at the north end of the site.
The application states that the demand for hotel space in Galway is expected to exceed pre-COVID demand by 2023, but that there is a lack of options for places to stay in the harbour area.
“The redevelopment of this brownfield vacant site and the delivery of a high-quality hotel will act as a local catalyst for further regeneration of the Inner Harbour Area and will support broader plans to transform this strategically located part of the city.”
When completed, the hotel will support 223 permanent jobs, and contribute €7.8 million to the local economy each year the application claims.
“The subject site is ideally placed to contribute to the regeneration of the Inner Harbour area. This provides an opportunity for visitors to be orientated within the new urban quarters by the active street frontage and distinctive character of the proposed building.”
The developer says that it is “infeasible” to provide the 120.9 car parking spaces which would be required under the city development plan for a project of this scale in both bed spaces, bar space, and restaurant space due to the nature of the site.
It is not proposed to include any car parking, but 14 dedicated bicycle parking spaces each for guests and staff are included in the plans.
A Natura Impact Statement and Architectural Heritage & Archaeological Impact Assessments were submitted with the planning application due to the location of the development.
Public submissions related to this development can be made until October 22, and Galway City Council is due to make a decision on this planning application by November 12.
