Community moves towards High Court challenge over homeless accommodation planning approval at Mayo hotel
A community group is preparing a High Court challenge to An Coimisiún Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission for the retention and change of use of a function room at the Dolphin Hotel in Crossmolina, for use as emergency homeless accommodation.
The national planning board’s decision overturned an earlier ruling by Mayo County Council, which had refused permission for the development in August 2025.
The original application sought to convert the hotel’s former function room into additional bedroom accommodation. It drew 78 submissions from members of the public, many of whom raised concerns about the proposal.
Mayo County Council refused permission on two grounds. One related to concerns about the design and layout of the function room, and other was in relation to increased traffic from the development potentially creating a risk to public safety.
That refusal was successfully appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála by Pat Mulhern Civil Engineering (Ireland) Limited.
Crossmolina councillor Michael Loftus said there was a strong feeling within the town that the planning board’s decision was “flawed,” and this has prompted the community to take steps to formally challenge it through a judicial review.
Cllr Loftus confirmed that a series of public meetings had been held at the local town hall in relation to the plans, with up to 80 residents attending in some cases.
It was at the most recent of these meetings that a decision was taken to pursue legal action. This led to the formation of the Crossmolina Community Information Group.
The group has already raised €5,000 to retain a barrister to review the case and provide legal advice.
Cllr Loftus explained that if the barrister determines that there are sufficient grounds to proceed, the community will need to raise a further €5,000 to bring the case in front of the High Court.
“The community are not in agreement with the decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála,” Cllr Loftus said. “They feel it is relevant to move forward with the review.”
“We were all extremely disappointed to see the hotel close. It was a facility that was used by the community so much; for weddings, funerals, and other major events,” he added.
If the group is successful in bringing the challenge before the High Court, the court will examine whether An Coimisiún Pleanála followed proper procedures in reaching its decision, but it will not assess the planning merits of an appeal.
Cllr Loftus has campaigned to retain the Dolphin Hotel as a functioning hotel since plans to convert the premises into emergency homeless accommodation first emerged in 2024.
The hotel and restaurant closed in November of that year due to “economic challenges facing the hospitality sector,” and the business was deemed to be “no longer financially viable.”
Following its closure, the nine-bedroom hotel was subsequently used as temporary accommodation for families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
When Mayo County Council refused the original planning application, which sought permission to develop ten guest rooms in the former function room, Cllr Loftus said that their decision was the “correct” one.
He described the function room as “not fit to put anybody into” for accommodation, citing its low ceiling, lack of natural light, and overall unsuitability for residential use.
He added that the Crossmolina Community Information Group is “trying to look after the community.”
“Mayo County Council objected to it, and the community felt that was the right decision - that’s why they are now continuing [to object],” he said.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.