Cashel Palace Hotel hosts information day on its proposed extension
A planning application for the extension is to be submitted after Tipperary County Council agreed to dispose of a portion of a neighbouring car park to the hotel’s owner
The owner of the Cashel Palace Hotel is to proceed with seeking planning approval for a significant extension to the five-star hotel after Tipperary County Council's elected members agreed to the disposal of a portion of the neighbouring Buckley's Car Park to the company.
Trevester issued a statement following the decision at the Council's July meeting in Nenagh on Monday, stating it was pleased to announce its intention to seek planning permission for the development of 29 additional suites at the hotel and associated function rooms and facilities.
The Section 183 agreement between the Council and Trevester means Cashel Palace Hotel purchases the freehold of a portion of parking facilities at Buckley’s Car Park that is being used currently as parking for its hotel customers under a lease agreement.
The Council disposed of the 0.093 hectares to Travester under a Section 183 agreement by way of a deed of transfer for the sum of €180,000.
In addition, the company now has sufficient legal interest in a further 0.002 hectares at Buckley Car Park to facilitate the construction, use and ownership of a proposed overhead “Skylink” pedestrian bridge between the land in sale and the hotel.
Also under the agreement, Tipperary County Council will gain freehold title from Trevester in respect of 3.5 acres of Cashel Town Park that is currently being developed.
Trevester said the Cashel Palace Hotel welcomes the approval by Tipperary County Council of the proposed changes to freehold land title that will facilitate its planning application.
It said the company's proposals support increased tourism and economic activity in Cashel and would also result in the transfer of Cashel Town Park into the permanent ownership of Tipperary County Council.
“The planned extension would be located on the site of the existing hotel car spaces in the nearby Buckley Car Park,” the company explained.
“There will be no impact on public car spaces; 35 existing hotel cars spaces will be relocated offsite, nearby.”
The company said its proposed extension would increase bedroom numbers from 42 to 71 and provide additional meeting and function rooms, including a top-floor main function room providing a bird’s-eye view of the Rock of Cashel, town and surrounding countryside.
“Cashel Palace Hotel estimates that over a 20-year period the extension will translate to almost €100m of additional economic impact whilst also creating and sustaining local employment both directly and indirectly.”
The company said the hotel currently sustains an estimated 500 jobs across the region, including 280 direct jobs and a further 200 plus full-time equivalent jobs through supplier purchases and employee spending.
A public information and consultation process with local stakeholders on the proposed extension is now underway and will include an open day at the Cashel Palace this Wednesday, July 15. Trevester said all are welcome to attend.
The planning application is expected to be submitted later this summer. Subject to planning, construction is expected to occur over an 18-month period supported by extensive measures to mitigate any disruption to the local community or hotel patrons.
Cashel Cllr Declan Burgess proposed the approval of the Buckley Car Park site transfer at Monday's Council meeting and declared it was a really important Section 183 agreement for Cashel.
“We all know the tourism potential we have in Cashel. This is something that is really welcome.
“I am delighted that this will assure the transfer of lands from Cashel Town Park (to the Council).”
In a statement issued after the meeting, he stressed there will be no loss of public parking at Buckley’s Car Park as the Cashel Palace Hotel has secured another site for hotel customer parking in the town centre.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Roger Kennedy, who seconded the Section 183 agreement, said it was a welcome project in the centre of Cashel and wished the company the best with its proposed development of the site.
Cashel Independent Cllr Liam Browne also spoke in support of the agreement and expressed the hope the project will get moving as fast as possible. What the company has already delivered has been of the highest quality and this project would be a huge economic driver for the town, he added.