The Salthill Hotel is making another effort to be allowed retain a glazed conservatory to the front of the building that was built without planning permission.

The conservatory, which served as an addition to a function room, was strongly opposed by residents of the Ardoon apartments development next door, who complained of increased noise levels.

Hotel owner Richard Byrne unsuccessfully challenged a decision by Galway City Council last year to refuse planning permission for its retention, with An Coimisiún Pleanála ruling against him in August this year.

The council issued an Enforcement Notice in June, requiring the removal of the 4.8m high, 132 square metres conservatory.

Now Mr Byrne has made a new application for planning permission to retain the structure – with a changed plan to use it as an extension of the hotel’s restaurant.

A previous report by City Council planners said that the direct access from the conservatory to the southern 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.

“The applicant completely ignored previous decision by An Bord Pleanála with regards to access to these southern terraces and has in fact introduced a whole new structure which has multiplied negative impacts to adjacent residences,” it added.

A submission from planning consultants RW Nowlan accompanying the new application for retention contends that the revised plans address those concerns.

“This planning application seeks permission to retain the conservatory as an integral part of the hotel restaurant.

“It is considered that by changing the use of the conservatory and removing the external doors to the terrace, the proposed development addresses the concerns expressed in the reason for refusal for retention of the conservatory.”

The submission said that the outdoor area had been redesigned to address other issues raised in the Council’s warning letter, by redesigning the western section of the terrace, including the hard standing area in front of the leisure centre to function solely as a pedestrian pathway leading to the leisure centre and by removing access to the raised terrace and removing the mobile coffee truck.

It added that the revised proposal meant that the use of the conservatory was no longer possible as an extension of the function room, thereby reducing any noise impacts.

It was no longer possible to exit the conservatory to use the terraced area, and the submission pointed out that the hours of activity of the restaurant were generally confined to the opening hours of 9am to 3pm for breakfast/lunch and 5.30pm-9pm for dinner.

Galway City Council planners are due to make a decision on the application by January 24.

Pictured: The unauthorised glazed conservatory at the Salthill Hotel, as viewed from the Ardoon apartments next door.