Rezoning bid rejected for former Anglo Irish Bank site

City councillors have voted against a change of zoning at the former Anglo Irish Bank site, which could have paved the way for a 200-bed hostel.

Ahead of a meeting to discuss the draft City Development Plan, Council Chief Executive, Brendan McGrath, had recommended no change to the land use of the premises.

“The building has a legacy of low impact 9-to-5 office use, and it represents a transitional site between the city centre and adjoining residential areas,” his report stated.

The submission from Connacht Hospitality Ltd. had sought the rezoning of the former bank premises on Forster Street from R (Residential) to CC (City Centre). Additionally, it wanted an expanded reference to tourist-related uses in CC land use zoning objectives to hotel and hostel accommodation.

Senior planner, Caroline Phelan, told members that an application for the hostel had been met with “significant objections” from residents in the area.

Senior executive planner, Helen Coleman, added that this was turned down by Galway City Council, and a subsequent appeal was upheld by An Bord Pleanála.

“They have looked for hotels to be allowed in all zones,” she said of the lengthy submission received from Connacht Hospitality Ltd.

Mr McGrath had also recommended an amendment to the draft plan so that ‘hostels’ would be added alongside hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs, in the list of uses which may contribute to the zoning objective, dependent on the R and LDR (low density residential) location and scale of development.

Cllr Padraig Conneely questioned why this would not be a good site, considering that Snoozles Hostel was across the road.

However, it was the wider opinion of members that this was not a suitable site for a hostel, and there was a unanimous decision to accept Mr McGrath’s recommendations.