Bord says yes to apartments for Hatch Hall

Permission has been given to turn Hatch Hall, bought in 2004 for over €16m, into a scheme of 36 apartments

THE FORMER Jesuit student residence – Hatch Hall at Lower Hatch Street in Dublin 2 – is to be converted into 36 apartments under a new planning permission ratified by An Bord Pleanála.

Galway developer Gerry Barrett, who bought the early 20th century building in 2004 for over €16 million, was previously refused planning permission to convert the complex into a hotel.

The three to five-storey Gothic revival building is to be retained in its entirety with the exception of a two-storey section at the rear south-east corner which links a four-storey building along Hatch Lane with the chapel. This section will be replaced by a six-storey block which will link to the proposed two-storey roof-top extension over an adjoining four-storey building along Hatch Lane.

An inspector for the planning appeals board said the proposed demolition of a small section of the existing buildings was considered acceptable as the proposal would define the corner of Hatch Place and Hatch Lane, as well as provide access to a basement car-park with 37 spaces.

The conversion will also involve internal alterations to the Gothic-style building, including the removal of internal partitions and screens, and the amalgamation of existing rooms to create apartments.

The rearrangement of the rooms will not affect the existing window arrangement or floor-to-ceiling heights. It is planned to provide a lift for residents.

The board ruled that the first floor chapel should be used as a health and fitness centre for residents of Hatch Hall.

One of Mr Barrett’s companies, Edward Residential Assets, has undertaken to retain the internal courtyard and to enhance it through refurbishment works and landscaping.

The building has twin turrets flanking a three-storey grand central bay with stone oriels. A circular oriel window is on the north-eastern corner of the building. Starting from the first to the third floor, this section is roofed in copper, as are the dormer windows in the fourth floor. The roof is steeply pitched with clay ridge tiles.

Irish Times

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