Boutique hotel ‘devastating blow’ to heritage village
By Maurice Garvey
PLANS for boutique hotel in Palmerstown Village have been given the green light by South Dublin County Council, despite significant opposition in the community.
Following the decision, Cllr Guss O’Connell (Ind) blasted it as a “devastating blow to the heritage village of Palmerstown”.
Cllr O’Connell continued, “not only will it further exasperate the appalling traffic situation but it totally undermines the policy of South Dublin Council to preserve and develop Palmerstown Village as a significant part of the heritage of the county and as the historic place that it is.”
As previously reported in The Echo applicant Gerald O’Connor is seeking to replace the existing 29-bed Palmerstown Lodge guesthouse at Lower Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown with a 53-bed boutique hotel.
The site is located at the junction of the village and the R148 motorway.
Numerous objections were lodged with the council during the planning process, from resident groups and many local councillors.
A key concern among the submissions is the impact residents feel the development will have on “bottleneck” traffic in the village, an aspect of the traffic report in the plans noted by Palmerstown Community Council.
Another submission by Red Cow Cottages/Woodram Cottages/St Fintan’s Tce Residents Association, refers to the council refusing permission for a 62-bed hotel at the site in 2004.
The group say traffic is exacerbated by several new housing developments in Lucan and Adamstown, and at peak times, it can take 30 minutes to exit the village at the junction.
A further submission from Riversdale, Riverview and Old Lucan Road residents Group said the proposed development is “extreme in overlooking existing properties” and “poses a threat to road a pedestrian safety in the area”.
The council granted permission for the proposal on June 19, council planners considered the development “would not seriously injure the amenities of the area and of property in the vicinity”, and “would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience”.
Cllr O’Connell concluded, “There was huge local opposition to this type and scale of development. I have fought over the years for proper and sensitive planning that is people friendly. It is hard to understand how it qualified for planning permission.”
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