Planning precedent report

PI Hotels & Restaurants Ireland Ltd intends to apply for permission for development of 4 No. illuminated external signs and building façade lighting at the former Clery’s warehouse building site at Nos. 13, 14 and 15 Earl Place, Dublin 1. This external signage and lighting application relates to a previously permitted hotel development (Dublin City Council Reg. Ref. 5479/22 and amended by DCC Reg. Ref. 3616/24) that is currently under construction. The proposed development consists: of the erection of (a) 2 No. high level internally illuminated signs of c. 3.77 sq.m each, located on the north and south elevations (b) 2 No. low level internally illuminated signs of c. 0.88 sq.m and 0.56 sq.m on the west elevation (c) All signage is single sided consisting of aluminium panel powder coated purple, with applied vinyl graphics. (d) the provision of building façade lighting, comprising LED spotlight uplighters on the western elevation.

For development to amend a previously permitted hotel scheme (Dublin City Council Reg. Ref. 5479/22) on a site of c. 0.129 hectares at lands known as the site of the former Clerys' warehouse building at Nos. 13, 14 and 15 Earl Place, Dublin 1. The proposed development, which provides for alterations to the permitted building, comprises: a change to the permitted development boundary resulting in building adjustments throughout the permitted structure (site area continues to measure c. 0.129 hectares); a decrease in the size of the permitted Basement Level (from c. 319 sq m floor area permitted to c. 258 sq m floor area total proposed), and an increase in the size of the Ground to Eighth Floor Levels (including Roof) (from c. 8,283 sq m floor area permitted to c. 8,585 sq m floor area proposed across these levels); the reconfiguration of the internal layout of all levels of the permitted building (from Basement to Eighth Floor Levels), to include amendments to the hotel bedrooms and related ancillary hotel facilities including reception area, lobby and licenced restaurant with public bar, storage areas, administration and staff facilities, plant, waste storage area and bicycle store, ancillary space (which includes areas such as circulation cores (lifts and stairs) and routes, plant areas (including ESB substation and meter room) and internal courtyard throughout the building); the reconfiguration of the permitted plant and mechanical and electrical services areas (and amendments to the associated plant screen) at Roof Level and an increase in the height of the plant screen (by c. 160mm); alterations to green / blue roofs; provision of photovoltaic panel zones; elevational alterations from Ground to Eight Floor Levels as required; provision of boundary wall to eastern elevation; and associated alterations to permitted landscaping and permitted scheme's site services (mechanical and electrical, water supply, sewage disposal and surface water disposal). The total gross floor area of the hotel building increases by c. 241 sq m (from c. 8,602 sq m permitted to c. 8,843 sq m proposed). There are no changes arising to the number of hotel bedrooms permitted (229 No.).

Permission for development on this site of c. 0.129 hectares at lands known as the site of the former Clerys warehouse building at Nos. 13, 14 and 15 Earl Place, Dublin 1. Planning permission was received for development, including development on this site, under Dublin City Council Reg. Ref. 3442/16 (as extended under Reg. Ref. 3442/16/X1 to 28th July 2025) (and subsequently amended by Reg. Refs. 3933/19 and 3576/21 (decisions are pending on Reg. Refs. 4995/22 and 5171/22 (which were lodged with the Planning Authority on 5th October 2022 and 4th November 2022, respectively)). Demolition of Clerys' warehouse building, reduction of ground level and enabling works (comprising contiguous piled wall with an insitu reinforced concrete capping beam, along with internal piles and temporary steel propping of perimeter walls) have been undertaken on the site further to this permission. The existing pile layout will be used for the proposed development. The proposed development will consist of the construction of a building 9 storeys (with setbacks) in height (over basement) comprising hotel and associated licenced restaurant and public bar uses. The hotel will comprise 229 No. bedrooms and related ancillary hotel facilities including reception area, lobby, licenced restaurant with lounge and public bar, cold room, kitchen, toilets, storage areas, administration and staff facilities, plant room, refuse area and bicycle parking area) with a total new build gross floor of c. 8,602 sq m (including c. 319 sq m basement, and ESB substation and switch room). The development will also include: the removal of the remaining elements of the former warehouse building and other associated development; associated lighting; pedestrian access/egress via Earl Place; Sustainable Urban Drainage systems (including green roofs and attenuation tanks); roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, roof plant and associated screening; associated hard and soft landscaping; and all other associated site excavation, infrastructural and site development works above and below ground including changes in level, boundary treatments and associated site servicing (foul and surface water drainage and water supply).

A proposal was previously approved (Reg.Ref. 3442/16) for the redevelopment of a circa 0.64 hectare site centered on the Clerys buildings, 18-27 O'Connell Street Lower, Sackville Place, Earl Place and Earl Street North, Dublin 1. This proposal was for a mixed-use development including retail, office, restaurants, bars, hotel, refurbishments and public realm upgrades to Earl Place. Within that application, a hotel was approved which involved a) the demolition of 13-15 Earl Place (the former Clerys warehouse building) and the construction of a setback 7-storey building (23.21m in height), 176 bedroom hotel with a Gross Floor Area of 8337m2 to include ancillary cafe/restaurant/bar uses and ancillary facilities and b) the retention and refurbishment of 94 and 95 Marlborough Street for use as part of the hotel. Permission is now sought to make changes to the approved hotel building at Earl Place. The changes are a) change the ground and first floor facade articulation; b) remove 4 bedrooms from the ground floor and increase the restaurant size; c) eliminate the pedestrian connection from hotel to main development at 1st floor level; d) provide an additional bay to levels 5 and 6 and add two additional set back floors at levels 7 and 8 so as to provide a 9 storey building with 37 additional bedrooms; e) alterations to all facades including change of brick colour, adding brick expression on the gable end, and change in articulation of the facade. The revised hotel building (30.995m in height) will have 203 bedrooms with a gross floor area of 9350m2 and will be built within the same footprint of the area permitted to be demolished at 13-15 Earl Place and approved previously for hotel. The total floor area has increased by 1664m2 from the original planning area. There are no changes proposed to 94 and 95 Marlborough Street, which will operate as part of the completed hotel containing 10 bedrooms as previously approved.

PROTECTED STRUCTURE: The application seeks permission for an amendment to the pemitted development Reg. Ref. 3442/16 as extended. Permission was sought for a restaurant use in a unit of 65 sq.m facing Earl Street North. Condition 4 of the 2016 permission required that the unit should be in retail use. Construction is now nearing completion and permission is sought that this unit be used for restaurant use as originally applied for. It will now be used as a restaurant in association with the adjoining corner unit facing Earl Stret North and Earl Place (111sq.m ground floor with supporting basement area of 80 sq.m.) already approved as a cafe/restaurant, so as to form a single licensed restaurant with a floor area of 256 sq.m.

Change of use of The Earl Building, Earl Street North and Earl Place, Dublin 1 from approved (but not yet occupied) offices to Health Clinic containing Maternal Outpatients Department, Paediatric Outpatients Department medical consultants suites and other adult outpatients care services for the Rotunda Hospital (presently carried out within the Rotunda campus). The proposed change of use involves a ground level entrance foyer from Earl Place and use of upper floors (first to fifth floor levels). The basement facilities (bike storage, changing room, showers, boiler room, storage and sprinkler tanks) will now service the Health Clinic rather that the approved offices. (The total change of use area will be 3754 sq.m). The proposal includes modifications to internal layouts and fitout and new LED illuminated signage at entrance level at Earl Place. An increased area for additional plant is proposed at roof level to ensure the building complies with a high energy rating. Approved screening louvres on roof are extended to cover additional plant area.