The Salthill Hotel has lost another battle in its long-running efforts to retain a glazed conservatory that was built without permission to the front of the hotel building.

City planners have once again turned down an application by the owner of the four-star hotel, Richard Byrne, to be allowed to retain the structure.

There has been strong objections from owners of the neighbouring Ardoon apartments to the 4.4 metres high conservatory being allowed to remain, complaining of noise and invasion of their privacy.

In August 2024, the City Council refused to give planning permission for its retention, saying that that the direct access from the area to terraces at the front of the hotel had allowed patrons of the hotel and functions to gather on the terrace, generating substantial noise at unsocial hours.

Last April, that decision was upheld on appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which ruled that retention would generate “significant adverse noise impacts, and would, therefore, seriously injure the residential amenities of the surrounding area, would generate adverse impact on adjacent rear communal gardens and bedrooms of residences”.

The council subsequently issued an Enforcement Notice in June, requiring the removal of the 132 square metres conservatory, which served as an addition to a function room,

Now, the local authority has again refused Richard Byrne’s latest application for retention, submitted in November, which envisaged a changed plan to use the conservatory as an extension of the hotel’s restaurant and removing the external doors to the terrace.

A number of objections were lodged by individual property owners of the Ardoon apartments next door and from the Ardoon Management Company.

Submissions complained that the new proposal would not resolve the issue of noise, even making it worse as a bar-restaurant extension, thus intensifying its use.

The latest application sought permission to retain the single-storey structure as an extension to the existing Prom Restaurant and internal alterations to include a cocktail bar area, new doors and glazing – both of these have been refused by city planners.

The City Council has granted planning permission, however, for the building of a 16 sq m flat roof extension to provide a separate entrance to the hotel’s spa area.

Other elements approved are the retention of a new mechanical plant area, alterations to the basement access, fire doors, along with permission for a new fire escape stairway at ground and first floor levels.

Pictured: Retention refused: the unauthorised glazed conservatory at the Salthill Hotel.