Dublin City Council has granted permission to PI Hotels & Restaurants to add an extra floor to its proposed hotel on the site of Twilfit House at the corner of Dublin's Upper Abbey Street and Jervis Street.
PI Hotels & Restaurants operates the Premier Inn brand.
The additional storey will increase the proposed hotel's floor count to eight and bring its bedroom count up to 206 from the 180 originally planned.
The revised plans also omit plans for a gym and retail unit in the basement and on the ground floor, respectively, of the proposed hotel building.
"Unacceptable"
The revised plans have been approved despite an objection by gym operator Ben Dunne. The Irish Times quotes Dunne as saying, "An eight-storey building has already been deemed unacceptable by the planning authority and there is no basis on which to permit the additional floor proposed."
Dunne added that the revised plans will result in "an over-scaled, overbearing building with a level of commercial activity that would create a severe risk to pedestrian and traffic safety".
Dunne operates a gym in Twilfit House, which faces demolition to make way for the proposed hotel. He made no reference to his gym specifically in his objection, but he did say that the omission of a gym and retail unit in the revised plans is "wholly unacceptable".
Other Objectors
A number of local residents have also objected to the revised plans, and An Taisce has criticised the lack of detail about the proposed changes in public notes.
PI Hotels & Restaurants said that the revised plans are in compliance with the site's planning history and land use zoning, and asserted that the proposed hotel's amended design will have no negative impact on adjoining properties.
Objectors to the revised plans have until March 11 to lodge an appeal with An Bord Pleanála.
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