Johnny Ronan firm to seek planning permission for 288 bedroom aparthotel near 3Arena

Gordon Deegan

A firm owned by Johnny Ronan’s RGRE has lodged plans for an eight-storey 288-bedroom aparthotel for Dublin's docklands to be operated by hotel operator Staycity.

The Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE) firm, Waterside Block 9 Developments Ltd, has previously secured planning permission for an office block on the site.

Instead of proceeding with the office block, however, the firm is now seeking to secure planning permission for the aparthotel at the same site at Waterfront South Central, City Block No 9, North Wall Quay and Mayor Street Upper, Dublin 1.

The planning documentation states that, as the proposed development includes a lower ground, a lower ground mezzanine, a ground floor and a ground floor mezzanine courtyard-facing levels, the scheme presents 10 storeys on its eastern elevation.

The site is located between the National Convention Centre and the 3Arena, and a submission lodged with the planning documentation confirms that the proposal is designed for operation by Staycity as part of its “Wilde” brand.

The submission explains that Staycity is an Irish-owned international aparthotel operator and is Europe’s fastest-growing aparthotel provider, operating over 8,000 aparthotel rooms in 21 cities, with 45 current/contracted properties.

The submission states that “this extensive experience has informed the design evolution of the proposal”.

A planning report drawn up by Tom Phillips + Associates states that the apart-hotel scheme will operate in a controlled and managed manner and will not give rise to unacceptable impacts on neighbouring amenity.

A separate Visitor Accommodation Audit finds that there is no existing over-concentration of aparthotel visitor accommodation use in the site’s vicinity, nor will the proposed development give rise to such an over-concentration, “with just nine existing hotels and one aparthotel within 1km of the subject site”.

The report contends that the proposed development would assist in the creation of a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood at a key regeneration site within Dublin City.

The report states that, therefore, the proposed development “will not alter the balance between residential, social, cultural, or economic functions in this part of the city”.

The Tom Phillips + Associates planning report states that the proposal represents a reduction in overall massing and basement intensity relative to the previously permitted office scheme for the site.