Full support for proposed hostel and glamping at former BOI building

Local councillors spoke in favour of proposals made regarding the former Lismore Bank of Ireland building as a presentation was made following the public consultation held in relation to the site.

In March, public consultation opened in relation to provision of a new tourist facility at the location, proposing that five new accommodation glamping pods be provided on the site.

Speaking at a special meeting of the Dungarvan Lismore District on Tuesday, Richie Walsh, of Waterford City and County Council’s Economic Development Department, outlined that the hope is that both the bank building and the curtilage, including significant gardens at the back, be developed for tourism accommodation.

According to Mr Walsh, the hope is to see the building itself converted to provide high-quality hostel accommodation.

“The Bank of Ireland in Lismore closed a number of years back and has lain vacant since then. The council bought it under the Building Acquisition Measure (BAM) within town and village renewal a couple of years back with a view towards it having a social housing element to it.

“In the meantime, the primary concern and need of the community has been significantly identified as being tourism accommodation, particularly since the Lismore Hotel has been removed from the marketplace,” Mr Walsh said.

The Part 8 process, which involved an element of public consultation, was made in respect of the curtilage of the building and the glamping pods and did not involve any proposed works to the existing building.

Senior engineer with Waterford City and County Council, Conor O’Neill, noted that the former Bank of Ireland building and site has quickly come into ‘a poor state’ despite the short few years it has been vacant.

He went on to outline that the proposal received four submissions in total while under public consultation, one from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage who welcomed the proposal and three from the public or other stakeholders, all of whom were in support of the proposal.

Members of the council are expected to meet again next week regarding a Section 183 land disposal in relation to the building, which will allow the community to progress in seeking funding opportunities for the project.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, Cllr Declan Doocey said that the project has ‘great ambition’.

“It's great to save the bank from the clutches of private ownership and make it available for this plan. We are starved for a bed and breakfast in this area and the hostel and these pods will be a huge complement to the St Declan’s Way walk and Lady Louisa’s Walk. If anyone wants to come to town visiting, they can plan ahead and stay a night and it will be good for the restaurants down town and for business,” Cllr Doocey said.

SOCIAL HOUSING ON THE RADAR

Cllr Conor McGuinness supported the project also, however, harkened back to original plans for the building to provide social housing and asked that the council ‘not lose sight’ of this need within the town.

“There is a real need for social housing in Lismore and its environs for people who are on the housing waiting list and waiting for something to come along. I wouldn't like that we would take our foot off the pedal, notwithstanding the fact that this building will now be used for tourist accommodation,” he said.

Agreeing, Cllr John Pratt also said that he is ‘completely supportive’ of the initiative and commended those involved but noted the need for social housing which persists in Lismore.

“I still have a fear because there are such issues there with water in the area with the Irish Water situation and sometimes the outages are going to have an affect on even finding a way to get those social housing, but I think that just needs to be passed on to the relevant sections again, very strongly, to ensure that we find a way to offset that issue so that houses can be built in Lismore because I don't think it's going to help the situation going forward either,” Cllr Pratt said.

Responding, Richie Walsh stated that housing is an ‘independent matter’ and cannot be given consideration as part of this particular decision.