Premier Inn Hotels has been given the green light for an expanded hotel in the Clerys Quarter on O'Connell Street.
The hotel site was bought by the Whitbread Group-owned firm for €21.8 million last August when it already had planning permission for a seven-storey 176-bedroom four-star hotel, reports RTE. And there's more positive news for the area as Dublin City Council has this week also given planning permission to Whitbread firm PI Hotels and Restaurants Ireland Ltd for a nine storey 229 bedroom hotel at the site.
After years of works, the Clerys Quarter is set to open this summer with two major retailers Flannels and H&M to be based in this location. The major restoration project will open to the public almost eight years after the iconic Dublin store shut down, with the loss of more than 460 jobs at the time.
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In its decision this week, Dublin City Council's planners recommended permission be granted for the hotel after they decided that it would fit in with the current public realm improvement works in the area. The planners also added that the hotel is "unlikely to have a negative impact" on adjoining properties as it is located on a secondary street.
In January, there was delight for many Clerys fans when its iconic clock was finally restored and visitors can also able to go inside the O'Connell Street building to see the historical exhibition Clerys: The Archives. The new Clerys Quarter will be home to H&M, Flannels, Premier Inn Group and the Press Up Group, office spaces, a panoramic rooftop restaurant, and five new food-and-beverage units, including the newly refurbished tea rooms.
In February, a group of politicians including Senator Marie Sherlock wrote a letter to the new owners asking for a commitment to the former Clerys workers on jobs. Sen Sherlock previously described the old Clerys building is being "at the heart" of O'Connell Street with hopes that the new development will help revitalise the street.
An opening date for Clerys Quarter has not yet been announced, but it is expected to open during the summer months.
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