Marlet gets approval for tourist hostel in central Dublin – The Irish Times

Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to convert a seven-storey office complex on Dublin’s waterfront into a 496-bed tourist hostel.

The planning authority has given Patrick Crean’s Marlet Group the green light for its proposed development in Martin’s Terrace, Dublin 2 and adjacent properties on the corner of Macken Street and the realigned Hanover Street East, despite local fears that the project will come to an end would lead to concentration of tourist accommodation in the region.

The decision now paves the way for one of Europe’s largest tourist hostel operators, a&o, headquartered in Berlin, to establish its first such hostel on the Irish market.

A planning report submitted on behalf of the applicants and Marlet subsidiary Prime GP4 Ltd by planning consultant Kevin Hughes of Hughes Planning and Development Consultants confirmed that the a&o chain would operate the tourist hostel.

The chain reported 6.1 million tourist overnight stays last year, making it the company’s most successful year to date.

Mr Hughes argued that from a practical perspective the tourist hostel would contribute much more to the vitality of the area throughout the day than an office building, while also providing more activity in the immediate area at night.

He said the proposed hostel will help ease pressure on the hospitality sector following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

Mr Hughes states that whilst there are 24 tourist accommodations and seven student accommodations within a 1km radius of the site in question, the proposed tourist hostel will not result in an excessive concentration or proliferation of tourist accommodation in the immediate area.

A&o was founded in Berlin in 2000 and operates 41 properties, including three so-called properties in European city centers. The overall portfolio includes 8,200 rooms and 28,000 beds

The council granted approval despite Dublin Bay South TD Chris Andrews stating that “the last thing the inner city community needs is another hostel or hotel”.

In a joint appeal with Sinn Féin councilor Kourtney Kenny, Mr Andrews argued that the proposed tourist hostel would lead to an excessive concentration or proliferation of tourist accommodation in the immediate area.

Speaking on behalf of the Pearse Square Residents Association, Helen Murray reiterated concerns about tourist accommodation, stating that “the addition of a large hostel further exacerbates this problem and potentially creates imbalances in the local community and services”.

In another objection, William Crowley and Shonagh Hurley stated: “The introduction of a tourist hostel can change the social dynamics of our community.”

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