Kilkenny County Council grants permission for 136-bedroom hotel at Hebron Road/N10, Blanchfieldsland, Co. Kilkenny

In context

It is one of 12 hotel applications Kilkenny County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 155 nationally. Of the 316 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 88% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 29 February 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Kilkenny County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

The development will comprise of a hotel, leisure and conference complex, incorporating the refurbishment and change of use of Hebron House (a Protected Structure) as the hotel reception with meeting rooms and offices, the development of hotel parkland and the construction of an access road off the N10 . The hotel extension off the refurbished two-storey over semi-basement Hebron House will provide a new two and three-storey hotel structure with 136 no. bedrooms, reception area, restaurant, bars, kitchen, staff room, stores, toilets, service areas, meeting rooms and conference centre and a lower ground floor level swimming pool, leisure centre, fitness suite, plant rooms and storage rooms. Within the grounds of the hotel, leisure and conference complex it is proposed to redevelop and landscape the existing walled garden and develop a landscaped parkland along the Pococke river, including footpaths and cycleways and a hotel car and bus park. A new access road is proposed from the N10 roundabout into Blanchfieldsland which will provide access to the proposed hotel complex and future developments on the Business Park zoned lands. Other works involve the demolition of existing outbuildings and sheds and the carrying out of all associated site development works, including a foul sewer pump station, storm drainage and attenuation, water services, ESB substation and lighting. A Natura Impact Statement will be submitted to the planning authority with the application.