Decision made on new hotel plan for Limerick city centre

MULTI-MILLION euro plans to expand the number of rooms at a new aparthotel at the former Debenhams site in the city centre have been approved.

Galway developer Michael McDonagh has received the green light from Limerick City and County Council to build an aparthotel with up to 74 rooms, and add a new top floor to the building.

READ MORE: Major AI event in Limerick to spotlight real-world applications across logistics and automation

As part of the plans are two retail units on the ground floor and the developer is in talks “with a major retail outlet” to replace Debenhams, which closed in 2020.

As part of the plans, lodged through Mr McDonagh’s firm Dalespell, two retail units on the ground floor will now be constructed instead of the original one.

Work on revamping the landmark building has already begun in earnest.

Construction workers are already on site carrying out interior demolition, coring on the floors to bring down their surfaces, and work to the windows of the former department store.

This is allowed as Dalespell already has permission to develop an aparthotel, which was expected to bring 60 bedrooms and one retail outlet.

But the fresh decision from council means Mr McDonagh can now add between 12 and 14 new rooms, which will be facilitated with the new top floor.

A statement provided to council points out the additional floor will be set back by around two metres from the existing building.

The use of lightweight materials like glass and aluminium panels “creates a contrast with the existing structure, highlighting the intervention without overwhelming the historic building,” it adds.

The design statement goes on to read: “Inspired by Limerick’s Georgian Quarter, the form of the additional floor is a considered architectural response, not simply to maximise the floor area, but to honour the proportions, rhythm and language of the surrounding built environment.”

Agents for the developer also told council planners it was the developer’s preference to return the whole building to retail use, as it has been historically with Debenhams and Roches Stores before it.

“However, the current market conditions do not make this a viable proposition,” they said. Aparthotel use will ensure it remains fully occupied, they added.

An aparthotel is a type of hotel offering self-catering apartments as well as the normal facilities expected from a hotel.