Dingle hotel gets extension go-ahead despite appeals
One of the largest hotels in west Kerry has secured approval for a major extension to its premises, despite objections from local residents.
An Bord Pleanála has not taken the recommendation of its own inspector and has granted planning permission for a redevelopment of the Dingle Skellig Hotel.
The planning appeals authority rejected an appeal by local residents against the original decision of Kerry County Council to sanction the four-storey extension which will provide an additional 32 bedrooms to the existing 130-bed facility, as well a single-storey extension to its restaurant.
However, it ruled that the hotel must omit its plans for an extension to the existing car park which would have more than doubled its size to over 200 spaces.
An Bord Pleanála said that, subject to a number of conditions, the proposed extension and refurbishment of the hotel, owned by local businessman, Tomás Garvey, would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area.
It also said the project was acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience and would not establish a negative precedent in terms of height.
“It is considered that the proposed development would represent a significant visual improvement to the existing hotel and would enhance the surrounding environment,” the board said.
Opponents claimed the large-scale extension was inappropriate for such a sensitive, coastal location.
Ricky and Dawn Keane, owners of a local guesthouse, Emlagh Country House, said the view at the front of their property, which was not already screened from the existing hotel, would be completely obliterated by the extension if it was allowed to go ahead, with the potential to adversely affect their business.
“No where in West Kerry and the Dingle town area has there ever been a four-storey development. The granting of planning for construction of a building of this height will set a very dangerous precedent for any future developments,” they said.
Two other appellants, Jonathan and Michael Moriarty, claimed the development conflicted with the local area plan for Dingle whose objective was to protect the natural environment.
An inspector with Bord Pleanála recommended that planning permission should be refused because the proposed extension to the car park was outside the boundary of Dingle town and its development would require a material contravention of the Kerry County Development Plan as well as being too large and visually inappropriate for a rural area.
However, the board said that the inspector’s “substantial concern” could be addressed by the omission of the additional car parking area which would have created an extra 138 spaces.
It also said it was satisfied that construction of the development would be unlikely to have a significant effect on any nearby special areas of conservation.
