Opposition mounts to plans for demolition of Westwood

Residents against the development of student accommodation on the site of the Westwood Hotel are to meet with developers this week.

The Newcastle hotel changed hands in February, with UK-based Ziggurat Student Investment Fund buying the property.

The company has plans to demolish the existing hotel and build some 400 student bed spaces. Following the construction of the student lettings, Irish-based company Atelier will take on the management of the property.

However, the plans have been met with outrage from locals who believe the area is already over saturated with students – between university-supplied accommodation and private rental accommodation.

Subsequent to a meeting in early April, a sub-committee from 15 local residents’ associations was formed to inform locals of plans and to gauge a response to any planning application that might arise.

As of yet, no application for planning has been made but opposition to the plans has been growing. The hotel will continue operating as normal until the beginning of next year.

Member of the sub-committee and Clifton Park resident, Basil Fenton, said that more residents’ groups have been joining the movement to oppose the development.

“We have had a couple of meetings and more estates are coming on board to oppose this,” he said. “We have no news yet of when a planning application will be made.”

In the days after the residents’ meeting, non-executive chair of Atelier and Circular Road resident, Enda MacGowan, said it would allay fears in a meeting once the sale was finalised.

This meeting is set to go ahead next week with residents hoping to voice their deep concern about the development.

Locals are lamenting the loss of amenity with the Westwood serving as their primary social outlet for over 20 years.

According to Mr Fenton, a survey of local business has found that they share the concerns of residents.

“We have carried out a survey in the industrial estates and the big emphasis has been on the loss of the amenity,” he said.

City councillor, Ollie Crowe, said it was vital that the line of communication between the developers, local residents and the Council’s planning department was open and transparent.

“I would say that this has got off to a very poor start – what would have been more appropriate for current owners to meet residents’ associations and get information out there in the correct way.

“This went out into the public domain as if it was a fait accompli.

“We need fairness and balance – not alone from the planning department but also from the new owners,” said Cllr Crowe.

He believed that it was adding to existing problems that residents have been having with anti-social behaviour.

“Only a stone’s throw away from this location, NUIG is building another 400 beds on the university grounds.

“There are huge concerns for local residents because there is a huge student population as it is,” said Cllr Crowe.

Ziggurat has already constructed large student complexes in Cork and Dublin – similar to the one proposed for the Westwood site.

It is their intention to create a portfolio of around 1,000 student beds in the city over the coming years.