The German Ambassador to Ireland, Matthias Hopfner has objected to the scale of plans for a new 53-bedroom hotel in central Dublin.

In April, Paddy McKillen Jnr, through his Dale Vision Ltd, lodged plans to build the hotel and demolish the Howl at the Moon nightclub on Lower Mount Street.

Mr McKillen’s Press Up Entertainment group purchased the building that houses the Howl at the Moon from the Mercantile pubs group in February for a reported €3.2m.

Last month, Dublin City Council gave the green light for the plans after the council planner found that the proposal was appropriately scaled and designed. The hotel was likely to have a positive effect on the area, the planner said.

The council gave the go-ahead in spite of An Taisce stating that the application should be refused.

However, in a rare move into Irish planning matters, Mr Hopfner submitted an appeal in his official role as German ambassador.

He is one of a number of parties to appeal against the decision. Mr Hopfner’s concerns arise from the impact the new hotel will have on the adjoining German government-owned Goethe-Institut, or German cultural institute, which is part of a global network of institutes that promote the study of German language and culture.

 

A decision is due on the appeal in October.