Westport councillor objects to Old Cap Factory hostel plans

A WESTPORT councillor has objected to the development of a proposed hostel in the centre of the town, claiming it would diminish the character of the town.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn lodged an objection with Mayo County Council regarding the application to develop a building known as the Old Cap Factory in the centre of Westport into a 13-bedroom hostel. The building, located between Bridge Street and James Street, has been derelict since the factory closed in the 1980s. It is within the town’s Architectural Conservation Area (ACA).

In his submission to the planning department of Mayo County Council, Cllr Flynn stated that while he would generally welcome ‘sympathetic infill in the centre of Westport’, he wished to object to the development of a hostel in the building on several grounds.

He said that in his view, the development did not comply with tourism regulations, as there is no common room, dining room or kitchen in the plans for the proposed hostel. He added that no information has been provided on market research for ‘the need’ for this development in ‘such an important central location in Westport’.

Compliance questioned

CLLR Flynn also pointed out that Westport is a heritage town with a town centre designated as an ACA and no architectural heritage impact assessment has been provided for the hostel. He further stated that the hostel would be ‘sandwiched between the protected structure of Matt Molloy’s and The Porter House, which is a building on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage’.

Cllr Flynn also said that he does not believe the application complies with the objectives of the local area plan or with the preservation of the area contained within the ACA.

“Any proposed development should complement the character of the town and not diminish it. In this regard it is essential that the appropriate measures and assessments are carried out to protect the fabric of Westport as a unique planned heritage town and as is required under its designation as an ACA,” he wrote in his submission.

Cllr Flynn also expressed concern that the development of a hostel in the centre of town would not meet the objectives of the local area plan to create a ‘vibrant and living town centre’.

‘Haphazard’

“THIS is an area with permanent residents living in close proximity to the proposed hostel development and such a development would affect their enjoyment of their property, devalue their properties and affect the amenity of the area. Ensuring in turn that the foregoing objectives of the development plan would be less likely to be met as people move away from residing in this part of town,” he stated.

Cllr Flynn also claimed that due to the ‘haphazard manner’ in which the planning application was put together, he questioned whether the proposal has anything to do with offering a ‘tourist centric’ holiday hostel.

“Should the Council be minded to grant planning permission for a hostel in any part of the building I am requesting a clause is included which states that the hostel may only be for ‘Tourism use’,” he concluded.

The Old Cap Factory building is owned by Sligo-based developer Brendan Power, who has been seeking to develop the property for the last number of years without success. An application in 2021 to develop apartments and a work unit in the building were turned down by both Mayo County Council and An Bord Pleanála.

In giving their reasons for refusing the application, the council cited a lack of private amenity space, which would not comply with the minimum standards for new apartment guidelines.

In the new application, Simon O’Dowd, architect with Ros Cheide Design & Construct, on behalf of Mr Power, requested that the planning authority ‘show some fairness and acknowledge the major additional costs and delays’ which would be involved if Mr Power ‘was forced to treat this building like a Protected Structure’.