Edenderry hotel plans scrapped

Plans to redevelop the unfinished Eden Plaza Hotel will not now be going ahead, according to Edenderry Cllr Noel Cribbin.

He called for fresh plans to either have the unfinished hotel made safe or redeveloped into a facility for the town.

Cllr Cribbin said Edenderry was Offaly’s second largest town and it badly needed a hotel. “It’s essential to a town, every wedding in Edenderry has to go out of the town,” he remarked.  

For the past 18 months, Cllr Cribbin said he has been working closely with a local businessman who had planned to purchase, redesign and complete the unfinished hotel.

Plans had been drawn up for a 60-bed hotel with a ballroom, gym and pool.  

“Sadly I received an email this week outlining to me that despite their best efforts and due to the complexities involved in this project that they will not be proceeding with this project,” he remarked.

Cllr Cribbin described it as “dreadful news to start the New Year”.

He said legal issues with banks and NAMA had resulted in the plans being scrapped.

However due to legal issues with banks and Nama this project is now off the table.”  He believes that something now needs to be done at the hotel site. Cllr Cribbin explained that Oaklands Community School is now at full capacity, but due to the lack of land is unable to extend. “Could the Department unravel this legal mess and turn this building into a school?” he asked.

He also asked whether the building be taken on by Department of Enterprise or another Government agency and turned into a call centre or a facility to bring jobs to the town.

Cllr Cribbin noted the cost to take down and fill in the basement of the hotel has been assessed at between €250,000 and €300,000.