Owners of Galway property denied retention permission over concerns about residential impact and planning policy
Galway City Council has refused a retention application for a registered bed and breakfast overlooking Lough Atalia, citing concerns over planning policy and residential impact.
The application sought to retain permission for a two-storey detached property in Galway city centre, converting its use from residential to short-term holiday letting. The site, located within walking distance of Eyre Square, had previously been granted planning permission in 2010 under strict conditions — including that the home be used solely as a single dwelling.
A subsequent request to extend the duration of the planning permission was granted in 2015.
At the time, neighbouring residents lodged appeals over the proposed development, raising concerns about site size, traffic, and visual impact. While the then named An Bord Pleanála ultimately upheld the planning approval, it reinforced the stipulation that the unit be “used and occupied” as a single dwelling.
Prior to the 2010 approval, five separate applications to develop apartments on the site had been refused.
The current owners purchased the property in 2016, while living abroad, with plans to relocate to Ireland. Construction began in early 2020 but was delayed due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The home was completed in December 2024 and subsequently leased to a VAT-registered company operating as a bed and breakfast.
The property is promoted via an Instagram account named ‘LA.18’, which features the full address, interior images, and highlights of the modern home. Amenities include a sauna, steam room, and cinema-style entertainment systems. The interiors are described as sleek and minimalist, with panoramic views of Lough Atalia through floor-to-ceiling glass panels.
The Instagram bio also links to an Airbnb listing, though dates are blacked out and no pricing is visible.
The home is situated near the Galmont Hotel and several other guesthouses along Lough Atalia and College Road. Almost all the reviews are 5-stars marking it a “guest favourite" on the site, the most recent from one week ago.
In its decision, Galway City Council stated that the retention application was not in line with “proper planning and sustainable development,” and contravened national housing policy. The council warned that approving such a change would set an “undesirable precedent” and could negatively affect the character of surrounding residential properties.