72-bedroom extension proposed for Mayo hotel
A 72-bedroom extension is in the pipeline at a hotel in the heart of Westport town.
The project at The Wyatt Hotel, located on the Octagon, also includes more than 100 new parking spaces - 88 new basement spaces and 20 public car park spaces at surface level off Church Street.
A planning application has been submitted to Mayo County Council for approval.
The application sets out how the site is located in the heart of the town with excellent links to town centre hospitality, entertainment, shopping and public transport.
The design concept proposes a modern, sustainable building oriented towards the public park and Church Street which strengthens the street and park edges and pedestrian links between Westport House, Church Street, the Carrowbeg River, the leisure centre and James Street.
The report added: 'The proposed development will make a significant contribution to the overall appearance and amenity of the area, will diversify and strengthen the mix of activities, benefit the vitality and viability of the town centre and add to the footfall in the area.
'The new building, integrated with the existing hotel building on the park and Church Street, will create a new edge to the public park, will screen the backlands to the rear of the site and provide passive supervision to the park.
'The new accessible sloped pedestrian public footpath through the park will be animated by the new stone front building at park level, landscaping including pollinator friendly planting and trees. The public park will become a more defined urban space with a new edge to the park created by a building of appropriate scale.
'On completion of the proposed development and in combination with ongoing landscaping management works by Mayo County Council the park will have a more distinct aspect as an integrated town centre amenity space which will greatly enhance accessibility, the overall public amenity and sense of safety in the park.'
The report concluded: 'The proposed new development will create people friendly street and public space in the town centre by improving connectivity and legibility of the urban environment. It will substantially increase the number of visitors and footfall in the town benefitting commercial, cultural, sporting and leisure activities for all.'
The lands for the proposed project were sold to the hotel owners last summer by Mayo County Council, with some disquiet locally over the loss of green public space in the town centre.
The site is zoned town centre development.