HOTEL DOOLIN has been granted the green light to an extension to its first and second floor resulting in the addition of 27 bedrooms.
On Monday, approval was granted for the development subject to fourteen conditions. The development will consist of a part one and part two storey extension to the existing hotel to include 27 bedrooms, a new hotel entrance and reception area, ancillary spaces including wellness suite (46sqm) and storage rooms.
1688 sqm is the total proposed gross internal area of the extension. Works also include hard and soft landscaping, a connection to the existing waste treatment plant, a new vehicular set-down area, alterations to the internal road layout, additional bicycle parking and 28 new car parking spaces. Planning was lodged by Paddy Burke and Jim Shannon.
Located to the east of Fitz’s corner in Doolin, the subject currently accommodates Hotel Doolin, Fitzpatrick’s Bar, two restaurants, a craft shop, the manager’s residence and a gallery. The western area of the site is currently zoned for tourism use while the eastern side is zoned for commercial use, as per the Clare County Development Plan 2017-2023.
Further information had been sought by the Council in March but the development is now deemed to have satisfied their concerns.
Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) who made a representation in respect of the application welcomed the decision to grant planning. “I very much welcome the benefits it will bring in jobs and local economic activity in the area,” he told The Clare Echo.
With 120 employees, Hotel Doolin is also Ireland’s first certified carbon neutral hotel. It won Ireland’s Greenest Hotel at the Gold Medal Awards, Ireland’s Green Business of the Year 2022, Best Medium Sized Organisation 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 as well as the Tourism & Entertainment Award in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2022 and the Sustainability Team of the Year 2021 at the Green Awards. Our Green Manager won IHI Environmental Manager of the Year 2019.
