It follows Patrick Crean’s Marlet Group lodging plans to convert a permitted seven-storey office development in Dublin’s docklands to a 496-bed tourist hostel for Martin’s Terrace, Dublin 2, and adjoining lands at the corner of Macken Street and the newly realigned Hanover Street East.
A planning report – lodged on behalf of applicants and Marlet subsidiary Prime GP4 Ltd, with the application by planning consultant Kevin Hughes, of Hughes Planning and Development Consultants – says that the a&o chain is to operate the tourist hostel.
Mr Hughes said a&o last year accommodated 6.1 million tourist bed nights in the most successful year yet for the business.
He says from a practical perspective, the tourist hostel will contribute much more to the vitality of the area throughout the day compared with an office building, while also ensuring increased activity within the immediate area at night.
While the proposal seeks to substantially alter the use of the permitted office scheme, the form, scale and design of the approved building will not be subject to significant revision, he said.
The proposed hostel will assist in alleviating pressure on the hospitality sector following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, he added.
Mr Hughes says while there are 24 tourist accommodation and seven student accommodation facilities within 1km of the subject site, the proposed tourist hostel will not result in an over-concentration or proliferation of tourist accommodation in the immediate area.
“We contend there is a market and a need for additional tourist accommodation within Dublin city centre and will aid in creating an added tourism draw to the historic and cultural hub that is the Grand Canal Dock and will enhance its status as a tourism destination.”
Dublin has the highest hotel occupancy rate across 35 European countries, at 83.4pc, according to the report, and some existing hotels have been taken out of general public use for refugees and international protection applicants.
The planning report says this leaves a direct problem with hotel room affordability with instances such as live music and sporting events regularly resulting in hotel prices becoming unaffordable.
Mr Hughes submits that the proposal “can contribute additional tourist accommodation within Dublin city”.
The a&o firm was founded in Berlin in 2000 and operates 41 properties, including three pipeline properties in European city centres. The 41 properties comprise 8,200 rooms and 28,000 beds.
Last year, it enjoyed record revenues of €220m.
