Plans to complete Garrettstown aparthotel put on hold
Plans for the completion of an aparthotel at Garrettstown beach have been put on hold pending an appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Picture: Howard Crowdy
Plans for the completion of an aparthotel at a popular Cork beauty spot have been put on hold pending an appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The appeal is by a former hotel owner in a dispute about access to adjoining lands.
The appellant, Denis Calnan, is seeking to overturn the recent decision of Cork County Council to grant permission for the development on the site of a former hotel at Garrettstown beach near the Old Head of Kinsale.
The plan is for the completion of a partially built aparthotel to provide for 20 hotel bedrooms and 24 apartments for short-term letting as well as a bar and restaurant.
The proposed building, which will range in height from three to four storeys, is similar to a development that was first granted planning permission in 2004.
Mr Calnan said he particularly wanted to challenge the council’s decision because he claimed it would allow the development of a wastewater treatment plant on his property, for which he had not given consent.
He claims the developer, Tulsan, does not have the legal right to construct such a facility on his property.
The businessman previously ran the Atlantic Manor Hotel at Garrettstown, but now only owns adjoining lands.
The hotel closed in the late 1990s and the building was demolished in the mid 2000s.
In his appeal, Mr Calnan acknowledged Tulsan has certain rights to connect to and use the existing wastewater treatment plant on his property for the hotel based on an agreement made with his predecessor in 1999.
He said he never opposed that agreement but does oppose Tulsan and its agents claiming extended rights which do not exist over his property.
He claims the increased capacity of the proposed wastewater treatment plant is in preparation for a future planning application for a multi-unit housing development.
Tulsan claims the new development will provide about 40 jobs when the aparthotel is operational.
In response to a request for further information from council planners, Tulsan said it agreed to accept restrictive planning conditions preventing the long-term leasing of the apartments.
The developer accepted the entire aparthotel would be restricted to short-term tourist occupancy.
In response to concerns raised by Mr Calnan, Cork County Council said in its ruling on the proposed aparthotel that planning applications were not the forum for resolving or adjudicating on disputes about property rights or entitlements.
A ruling by An Bord Pleanála on the appeal is due by the end of April 2024.
Last year, the board rejected a separate proposal by Mr Calnan to open a coffee dock at Garrettstown beach over concerns it would negatively impact on EU protected habitats in the area, including the Old Head of Kinsale Special Protection Area.
The board also rejected the businessman’s proposed development for the single storey building because of its negative visual impact on “a sensitive scenic area”, which it claimed would interfere with the character of the landscape that forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Mr Calnan, from Lehenaghmore, Farmers Cross, Cork had a similar planning application rejected by Cork County Council in 2021.
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