Plans for a new 178-bedroom hotel at Portobello harbour on Dublin's southside have been been met by an outcry from local residents, who say the planned development threatens the future of the scenic area and that its a community that already lacks public space.
The proposals, lodged last month to Dublin City Council by Clontarf-based development company MKN Property Group, would see the demolition of Portobello College to facilitate the new 5,775 sq. m hotel, which would front on to the square beside Portobello Bridge and would house a bar, restaurant and gym, as well as meeting rooms, reports dublinlive.ie.
The plans highlight that the new hotel would be over six storeys and that the construction work on the building would see the demolition of Portobello College's existing two to four storey buildings.
Locals have objected to the proposals by organising a campaign called 'Save Portobello Harbour', with a petition already attracting over 3,700 signatures. Locals argue that the scale of the proposed building will impact on neighbouring buildings and create traffic congestion in the area.
"The development of a 178-bed hotel on the site will undoubtably [sic] restrict locals and those who are not using the hotels [sic] services from using this public space for markets, skateboarding, biking, ball games & all other activities that occur here on a regular basis," reads the petition.
