Council raises concerns over aspects of Glasson hotel development

Further information sought by local authority on Lakehouse hotel plans

Westmeath County Council planners have raised concerns about elements of the planned multi-million euro revamp of the Glasson Lakehouse hotel, and have requested more information on a number of aspects of the proposed project.

The former Glasson Country House Hotel and Golf Club was purchased by developer Paddy McKillen Jr's Oakmount company two years ago.

In October, a request for planning permission was submitted for a range of redevelopment works in and around the hotel, some of which have already been undertaken.

The planning bid includes an outdoor swimming pool, 24 eco cabins on stilts, a banqueting room, a two-storey gym, and a five-bedroom house on site for the owner of the hotel and his family.

Last week, the council requested further information on the planning application.

In its letter to the developer, the local authority pointed out that a new access road with associated lighting had been built from the hotel to the lakeshore and marina, but this road did not feature in the description of the development, and no ecological assessment had been submitted in respect of it.

The council also said that, during a site inspection, it became aware there was a cinema operating on site, which had been put in place without planning permission.

"It would appear that the cinema is open to both residents and members of the public. You are invited to comment on (this) and, in the event the cinema is to be retained, you are requested to submit revised proposals to regularise the planning status of same," the local authority wrote.

Furthermore, the council stated that there was "a jetty/marina" adjoining the application site "which does not have the benefit of planning permission" and it asked the developer for a response on this.

Concerns were raised about the design of proposed changes to the first floor of the hotel, including works around the entrance lobby and cinema, as well as the addition of seven new bedrooms.

The council said it was not opposed to these works in principle, but the design which was proposed "fails to successfully integrate with the existing built form, resulting in a harsh and bland appearance."

The developer was invited to submit new design proposals that would "provide for a high quality external finish."

The request for further information noted that "significant excavation works" had been carried out at the site of the proposed new banqueting hall, and that a "small children's play pond" had also been constructed to the south of the hotel, which had involved some excavation.

The amount of excavation involved in these works had not been made clear, the council said, and the developer was asked to submit a revised appropriate assessment screening report which would outline the extent of the excavations and any potential ecological impact on the lakeshore site.

In addition, the council stated that the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht had "raised concerns" about information contained in the appropriate assessment screening report and Natura Impact Statement that had been submitted with the planning application in October.

The developer was asked to "engage the services of a suitably qualified person (eg. ecologist)" to address the Department's concerns.

The developer was also requested to engage an archaeologist to carry out an archaeological assessment of the development site.

The council stipulated that "no sub-surface" development work should be carried out until the archaeological assessment had been completed and commented upon by the council's planning office.

On the issue of traffic arising from the hotel's proposed expansion and redevelopment, it was requested that the developer submit a "traffic and transport assessment" which would cover the existing and proposed traffic volumes in the locality.

An assessment of the L-5467 local road, from Glasson village to the entrance of Glasson Golf Club, was sought, with the instruction that this should examine the adequacy of the road and any works needed to cater for heavier traffic on it.

Michael Barrett of Lakeside Marina in Glasson, and another Glasson resident, Michael Hopkins, were among those who made submissions on the planning application. The council asked the developer to consider and respond to concerns raised in these submissions.

The council noted that a "wedding barn", which featured on a drawing in the planning application, was not then included in the description of the proposed development. "You are requested to provide clarity in relation to this matter," it stated.

The developer was also asked to respond to concerns about "the design, location and scale" of the 24 eco cabins on stilts which were being proposed on a "visually sensitive site".

"You are invited to address these concerns and provide a planning justification for (the eco cabins)," wrote the local authority.

The developer now has a period of six months - until the beginning of June - to respond to the council's request for further information.