NUIG to cash in on tourism as angry hoteliers cry foul
The Irish Hotels Federation has lost its battle to prevent NUI Galway from cashing in on the short-term tourist rental market at its Goldcrest Village student accommodation complex in Newcastle.
The body said the move by university authorities to use 34 apartments – potentially around 100 bed spaces – would “seriously undermine the viability and long-term sustainability” of the sector and create unfair competition in the marketplace.
The IHF represents more than 80 businesses in Galway City and county and has called on the City Council to play an increased role in assessing the impact of proposals for the use of student accommodation as tourist accommodation during the summer.
It claims that an ‘uneven playing field’ will be created – because student-accommodation providers do not have to pay commercial rates or water rates.
NUIG was granted planning permission for the Goldcrest complex in 2016 – it includes 764 bed spaces across 429 bedrooms contained within a total of 76 apartments.
A stipulation was attached by An Bord Pleanála that the residences must be confined for use from September to May each year by students enrolled at NUIG and for use by conference delegates or short-term student stays from May to September.
“It shall not be used for holiday letting, nor as hotel or hostel accommodation, without a separate grant of planning permission, in the interests of clarity and to delimit the proposed use of the development to on-campus student accommodation, having regard to the potentially different impacts of use of the development for holiday letting,” the Board stipulated.
Last December, NUIG sought permission to remove that condition, and to allow 34 apartments in Block A of the complex to be used by tourists.
“The applicant is already permitted to let the 429 bedrooms to conference delegates and short-stay students during summer. [The change] will not result in any net increase in the number of people using the facility during summer months.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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