Businessman Harry Crosbie, who is leading the project, expressed his satisfaction with Dublin City Council’s approval, despite facing 40 objections, including one from Fr Paddy O’Reilly, Prior of John’s Lane Church in Dublin 8.
Fr O’Reilly argued that the Liberties is being overwhelmed by hotel and student accommodation developments, which he says are displacing families and threatening the long-established community.
Despite the objections, the council granted permission to Mr. Crosbie’s Vicar Street Hotel Ltd for the eight-story hotel, concluding that it would not harm the residential amenities of nearby homes or the broader character of the area.
According to the council’s planning report, the hotel has the potential to become an integral part of the Vicar Street Venue, with both complementing each other.
Mr. Crosbie has sought to build a hotel at this location since 2008, when the original planning permission was approved. However, the global financial crisis and later the Covid-19 pandemic delayed progress.
On Thursday, Crosbie commented: “The area is in dire need of more activity, especially at night when Vicar Street is closed.”
He added that Vicar Street is highly successful, with its events fully booked for the next six months, and said the ‘rock and room’ hotel concept would be well-received by guests.
As part of the approval, one of the 16 conditions requires the developers to pay €769,595 to the council for public infrastructure improvements.