Residents lodge 35 objections against Gasometer hotel

Plans to turn an empty apartment block at the site of the former gasworks in Ringsend into a 520-bed hotel have been the subject of more than 35 objections to Dublin City Council from residents of neighbouring apartments.

Developer Liam Carroll, the man behind Fabrizia and one of Ireland's most prolific developers, is seeking to turn the vacant building of 210 apartments constructed inside the metal struts of the Victorian gasometer into a hotel to recoup his losses on the apartments which failed to sell.

However, more than 400 other apartments within the 7.8-acre gasworks site, which are immediately adjacent to the gasometer building are occupied, and apartment owners have strongly objected to Mr Carroll's application. The objections received by the council by yesterday's closing date were all similar in nature and focused on the issues of noise, risks to safety and security, loss of privacy, access to parking, general disruption and the presence of smokers.

One of the objectors, fashion designer Mariad Whisker said the developers had shown "nothing but contempt for me as a resident". The entire complex, which had been marketed as a "prestigious residential development", would now be at risk from the possibility of "unsociable behaviour of hotel guests with no inherent responsibility towards the complex".

The hotel could attract "hen" and "stag" parties, or those attending matches at the nearby Lansdowne Road when it was redeveloped, with the associated problems of noise and upheaval she added.

Another resident said her daughter's bedroom would be directly opposite the hotel and would become "unusable" because of the noise from the hotel.

Several objectors pointed out that taxis, coaches and delivery vehicles would be using communal space owned by the apartment residents and that smokers would also be congregating in this outside space.

Local Labour councillor Kevin Humphreys also objected to the development and noted that it breached the current zoning for the land which was designed to protect and preserve residential amenities.

A decision on the planning application is likely to be made in the coming weeks.