An Taisce objects to historic hotel’s revamp

HERITAGE body An Taisce has objected to plans to revamp one of Co Cork’s best-known hotels.

The owner, Tolbaz Ltd, is seeking to partly demolish the 73-bedroom Acton’s Hotel in Kinsale and turn it into two houses, 62 apartments and a 15-bed boutique hotel.

David Good, director of Acton’s Hotel, said he was very disappointed with, what he termed, “the inaccuracies in the An Taisce appeal” to Bord Pleanála, although he didn’t specify what they were.

“We are trying to develop a modern hotel development to rejuvenate the site and contribute to Kinsale,” Mr Good added.

Kinsale Town Council granted planning permission for the redevelopment last month, but an appeal was lodged with An Bord Pleanála by An Taisce heritage officer, Ian Lumley.

In his submission, Mr Lumley claimed the proposal would involve the loss of one of the best known historical hotels in the country which occupies a prominent site in one of Ireland’s most attractive historic towns.

He noted the planners’ report confirmed that the hotel-related floor area would reduce from 6,082 sq m to 2,138 sq m for a 15-bed boutique hotel which would have a relatively small bar, restaurant and ancillary accommodation.

“This would then shift the dominant use of the site to residential development at a time when there is an oversupply of residential accommodation nationally,” Mr Lumley said.

An Taisce also claimed the development “is excessive in both bulk and scale”, and would have an “adverse impact on an architectural conservation area, on the historic context of the surrounding townscape and on residential amenity.”

Mr Lumley also reminded Bord Pleanála that on August 6 Cork County Council’s conservation officer, Mona Harrington, said in a report that the apartment block is “simply far too big for the site”.