Dunlop House hotel set for rapid progress

THE 246-room hotel planned for Dunlop House seems close to reality.

The ground floor of the building is currently vacant although it was once home to the 418 Nightclub, formerly known as Rumours.

Council was considering a renewed planning application for the site.

It first considered a proposal to turn the building into a 245-suite serviced apartment hotel in 1997. This time, applicant Christou Casella and Jee architects asked that an additional floor be permitted to increase viability.

A staff note to council said the project had been put on hold because of the Asian financial crisis. With the upturn in the regional economy the owners have asked for the project to proceed.

They have entered into a management contract with Rendezvous Hotels International to operate the hotel.