The operator of Cleaver East restaurant at the four-star Clarence Hotel, Banta Restaurants Ltd, is lodging an appeal with An Bord Pleanála against the Dublin City Council decision to green light the project. It places a question mark over the entire hotel redevelopment project in Dublin’s Temple Bar and stalls the scheme for at least four months.
In April, Dublin City Council granted planning permission to Keywell DAC to increase the number of hotel rooms by 104, from 58 to 162, and add an extra floor to The Clarence Hotel and adjoining Dollard House.
A planning report lodged with the application stated that the scheme is of “critical importance to the long-term viability of the hotel”.
The proposed works represent an essential investment in the improvement and modernisation of this iconic Dublin property,
The revamp includes Cleaver East becoming a contemporary music pub.
In a letter of support lodged with the city council in December, Banta Restaurants Ltd stated that “in our capacity as the licensee operator of the restaurant, Cleaver East, which is located within The Clarence Hotel, Banta Restaurants Ltd wishes to express full support for the proposed planning application”.
The submission added: “The proposed works represent an essential investment in the improvement and modernisation of this iconic Dublin property, which will benefit not only the hotel but the wider local economic and tourist community.”
In a U-turn by Banta Restaurants Ltd, director at the firm Aidan Crowe, has lodged the third party appeal calling on the appeals board to reconsider the council’s grant of permission.
Mr Crowe states that the site represents a valuable opportunity for permanent residential development in a city grappling with a chronic housing shortage.
He says: “Approving further tourist accommodation contributes to the gradual erosion of the city centre as a lived-in space, undermining national and local policy objectives around compact growth and sustainable communities.”
Mr Crowe has requested the board that it reconsider the decision of Dublin City Council.
Keywell DAC is part of Lifestyle Hospitality Capital (LHC). Last year, LHC purchased a majority stake in the Dean Hotel Group – that included The Clarence Hotel – from the Press Up Group.
A decision is due on the appeal in September.
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