Citywest hotel set for €40m extension project

Developer Jim Mansfield's Citywest Hotel has got the green light for a €40 million expansion that will bring the number of rooms in the property to almost 1,800.

South Dublin County Council has given Citywest in Saggart planning permission for 99 tourist suites. The suites will add 300 rooms to the 380-acre complex in Co Dublin, bringing the total there to 1,770 rooms.

The hotel calculates that the extension will require an investment in the region of €40 million.

Work on the development will get under way in a number of weeks and is likely to be completed in nine months, meaning they are likely to be open by the end of the year.

The suites are aimed at families and the development is designed to boost the hotel, conference and golf resort's appeal to tourists.

Mr Mansfield told The Irish Times that he was delighted with the council's decision. "This is a significant investment for Citywest Hotel and we anticipate that it will bring many thousands of additional tourists to Ireland and the local area," he said.

The hotel recently opened 167 superior guest rooms. The hotel also includes conference facilities with a capacity of 4,000 and meeting rooms with space for a further 2,500.

The hotel and golf complex is part of the Citywest Group, which includes Weston Executive Airport in west Co Dublin and PGA National Golf Course at Palmerstown House in Kildare.

Weston airport was in the news recently when it emerged there was a dispute over the fact that it does not have port of entry status.

A change in the law has made this necessary if travellers from outside Ireland or Britain are to be allowed to fly direct into the airport.

The authorities were aware that it did not have status. But the airport did have an arrangement with the Garda and Customs under which they were informed of all inbound flights from outside the two islands. Weston management has applied for port of entry status.

Mr Mansfield is one of three business people who have pledged to pay €13 million each to have the Luas tram system extended from Tallaght to Saggart. This would give a direct light rail link between the area and Dublin city centre.

Mr Mansfield bought Citywest in 1990 for £1 million. The complex is now reckoned to be worth some €400 million.