At a planning committee meeting (Wednesday 13th February), Newry Mourne and Down District Council approved an application for outline planning permission to build a 100 bedroom hotel and spa, the Seven Hills Hotel, at Greenpark Road, Rostrevor.
Located on the outskirts of the village on a 35 acre site along the beautiful County Down Coast, the hotel will operate in the four star market offering two function rooms, two lounge bars, a restaurant, spa and conference facilities. The project has been driven by Miceal Tinnelly of Shoreside Developments.
The application for outline planning was agreed following consultation with the local community.
£1,525,000 is earmarked to build the hotel on a previously developed site, which will also brings regeneration and significant environmental improvement to the immediate area. As well as providing jobs in the construction industry in the short-term and indirect investment to the area, the establishment of the hotel will create up to 100 jobs in the hospitality sector in the long-term.
Miceal Tinnelly said: “It’s been a long time, almost ten years, in the planning, and now we are looking and the final stages of this and hope to be moving on the building within a year. We have finances to sort out and hotel groups etc to talk to but al in all, we are in a much better position than we were last week and are now looking forward to progressing quickly with the project.
“Rostrevor is a beautiful small town located close to the Irish border, overlooking Carlingford Lough with the Mourne Mountains as a backdrop. And we have Newry City on our doorstep too. We hope to build up business in weddings, functions and conferences and the amount of tourists in the area is definitely increasing. The Seven Hills hotel will be a major benefit to the tourist trail in this area.
Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin said: “The approval of the application is great news for Rostrevor and for the wider district. A new hotel will add much needed accommodation to the district’s current offering.
“There is a drive to make Newry Mourne and Down the premier tourist destination in Ireland and investment in high end, hotel, spa and conference facilities shows a massive vote of confidence in our local tourism sector.”
This is the second important economic application recommended for approval within the last year in the Rostrevor area… full permission was approved for a residential nursing home and 41 apartments along Shore Road in January 2018. These projects will provide a significant boost for South Down.
South Down MLA Sinead Bradley said: “I am absolutely delighted to learn that Miceal Tinnely’s application for a hotel in the Greenpark Road in Rostrevor has today received online approval at the Planning Committee.
“I commend Miceal and his team for their perseverance and determination to get through what at times was a challenging planning system.
“Visitors to this part of South Down would understandably be drawn to spending time in the beautiful scenic area of Rostrevor.
“Since 1978 following the firebomb which destroyed the grand Great Northern Hotel, Rostrevor has been without a significant hotel offer that has the capacity to help draw visitors.
“It is an exciting project and investment that will no doubt bring huge dividends to our local economy, and add an extra jewel to our already rich tourism offer.
Crotlieve SDLP Councillor Declan McAteer who seconded the motion to approve also expressed his delight at seeing the project finally cross the line, and said: “It is abundantly clear that our region has an amazing tourism offer and we must be strategic in harnessing responsible ways of benefiting from that offer. The proposed hotel does exactly that, it provides an added value to the area, but remains sensitive and complimentary to its beautiful natural surroundings.”
