High Rise Hotel for Longford

An 11 storey 96-bed hotel is part of a new development which received the go ahead from An Bord Pleanala. This will be the tallest building in the county and will change the local skyline dramatically. The new Gateway Business Park comprising of offices, retail warehouse units, hotel, Gateway Pavillion (including restaurant/cafe, terraced townhouses, 17 three bedroom duplex townhouses and 17 two bedroom groundfloor townhouses), creche and playschool, drive-thru fast food restaurant, car showrooms and service station. Parking will be available for 1200 cars. There will be access from both the Red Cow and the Ballinalee roundabout. Planning had previously been granted for the 21 acre site by both Longford County and Town Councils but objections had been raised to the planning board and permission was granted with reduced retail space. Murray O'Laoire Architects, who are redesigning Athlone town centre, did the design work.