Hotel short-term units to be changed to living accommodation

PLANS to convert short-term tourist accom-modation units at Westpark Crescent, Garters Lane, Saggart, into “apartment-type living accommodation” have been approved.

The planning application for the change of use was submitted by Suites Hotel Management CLG, with an address in Dundalk, last March.

The applicant sought permission for the change of use of existing short-term tourist accommodation units to 20 full apartment-type living accommodation units.

The 20 units are to consist of 10 two-bed, ground-floor units and 10 two-bed, duplex-type units at first-floor level.

The proposal includes small elevational changes to facilitate balcony extensions at first-floor level and new balcony areas at ground-floor level.

This will be done in order to accommodate private amenity space for the individual units, according to the planning application.

There are provisions for a new bicycle shelter, parking, landscaping and boundary treatment works, along with all associated site development works.

One of the aspects of the proposal includes a request for the omission of a planning condition from a previously approved planning application.

In 2001, the local planning authority granted permission to HSS Ltd to construct the 20 hotel suites apartments at the subject site – which was listed on the application as Citywest Golf Club.

In their current application, Suites Hotel Management CLG requested that the condition that states the development “shall be occupied and used only as part of the existing hotel complex on the extended site” be omitted.

That condition outlined how individual units within the complex can only be used for short-term tourist accommodation and any change will require a separate grant of planning permission.

At that time, the reason behind this condition was “to meet the specific tourism requirements of the development”.

South Dublin County Council granted permission for the change of use on December 5.