Extension plan approved for Corralea Court Hotel in Tuam

A hotel in the centre of Tuam has been granted planning permission for a major extension after the owners acquired an adjoining business premises for the expansion plan.

County planners have given the green light for the extension to the Corralea Court Hotel at The Square in Tuam. The landmark hotel has been part of the fabric of the town since the 19th century.

The planning permission has been granted to the owner Philip Devane and the development will consist of the provision of a new reception area, lobby and toilets at ground floor level. The owner has acquired the adjoining premises which was known as Forkan’s Butchers.

The hotel currently has 26 bedrooms but it is intended to provide additional accommodation and first and second floor level while a new entrance is planned while there will also be alterations to the front elevation of the building.

Planners attached seven standard conditions to planning and stipulated that the contractor carrying out the works take all the necessary measures to prevent any disruption to the free flow of traffic.

While considering the application, planners requested the owner to submit details with regard to parking at the hotel to accommodate the new development. The applicant was also advised to consult with the town engineer in this regard.

The Council also asked for mitigation measures to ensure that safe pedestrian circulation is preserved along the public streetscape during the construction phase.

In response Oliver Higgins Chartered Engineers, on behalf of Mr Devane, responded by saying that the hotel has 20 car parking spaces to the rear. It was stated that it is an existing and established town centre hotel on a restricted site.

Planners were told that the hotel provides accommodation for many bus tours which would not have any parking demands. Between peak and off-peak seasons, there is a balance in parking requirements with the overspill being met by the existing short and long-term parking facilities in the town, the engineers added.

It was stated that the newly acquired building will accommodate additional bedrooms in the first and second floor. It was explained the premises was a butcher shop in the 1980s, a hairdressing salon in 1999, a bookmakers and its last use was a PC repair shop.

Works on the ground floor will involve transferring the existing hotel reception into a larger floor area. The new guest reception area is to facilitate hotel residents and is ancillary to the bedroom use.

The hotel is currently operated by well-known local business woman Bernie Geoghegan and it is expected that works will commence on the extension to the Corralea Court Hotel in Tuam later in the year.