Plans are in place to construct a new hotel in Wicklow town made from shipping containers and consisting of 25 bedrooms.

Waterbrand Holdings LTD have lodged a planning application with Wicklow County Council for a development which, if successful, would completely transform the South Quay.

The application seeks the demolition of two existing warehouses, with the stone wall to Quarantine Hill to be retained, and provision of a hotel constructed using shipping containers, comprising 25 hotel bedrooms, cafe/restaurant, wine bar and roof terrace.

The hotel's maximum height will be 15.5 metres and the works will also include 14 car parking spaces.

Shipping container hotels have begun popping up all over the globe over recent years and are considered an eco-friendly alternative to more traditional lodgings.

Cllr Irene Winters says Wicklow town is in urgent need of further hotel rooms but the fact that the proposed hotel will be located in a working harbour needs to be recognised by the developer.

'I have no difficulty with the materials that are being used once it is suitable for the area. I know architects have designed buildings and hotels elsewhere from shipping containers and they look beautiful. Extra hotel space for Wicklow town is also really essential. My only concern would be that the hotel would be on a working port so that needs to be taken into consideration. There will be noise and other activities taking place at the port and those behind the development have to be mindful of this,' said Cllr Winters.

Wicklow People