A new book has been published which is of value to anyone with an interest in Dublin's planning.
Dublin’s Future: New Visions for Ireland’s Capital City is the first book to look at the future of Ireland’s most important city from a variety of perspectives. It recognises that the future of Ireland’s economic engine is about much more than the provision of infrastructure and colours on a development plan, but that a huge range of interests and activities have a role to play in making Dublin not only the best city in Ireland, but also the best city for Ireland.
The book identifies different ‘Dublins’, some concerned with economic success, some concerned with quality of life, all interlinked and interwoven in the complex fabric of a modern city.
Dublin’s Future suggests that the city now needs managers from diverse backgrounds, not necessarily commerce or engineering; that Dublin’s managers should have a proven urban ethos; and that we should even consider hiring a manager, not from the internal ranks of local authorities, but perhaps even from another country.
Contributors to Dublin’s Future are recognised authorities in their fields. They cross sectors of age, sectors of private and public, profit and non-profit, and each and every one has something interesting to say about the future of Dublin.
The book is published by The Liffey Press and costs €19.95.
www.bpsplanningconsultants.ie
Showing posts with label dublin planning and development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dublin planning and development. Show all posts
Monday, 7 November 2011
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
City buildings to be knocked down in revamp
BUILDINGS opposite the Spire are to be knocked down as part of the rejuvenation of a key part of the city centre.
Permission has been granted for the demolition of numbers 32 and 33 Henry Street despite opposition from a heritage body.
Percy Nominees Ltd applied for approval to knock down the structures and partially demolish and alter the interior of 68 and 69 O'Connell Street Upper.
While supporting the regeneration of the site, An Taisce strongly objected to elements of the plan.
"While the refurbishment and conservation element of this proposal is welcome, An Taisce cannot support demolition of historic streetscape buildings," the national trust stated.
It does not consider the "good quality" structures in this location "expendable".
"While we welcome the repair and conservation of the Georgian building on the corner of O'Connell Street and Henry Street, which appears to be original to the mid-18th century Gardiner's Mall development, we consider that the demolition and replacement of Nos 32 and 33 is unacceptable," An Taisce said.
The refurbished and rebuilt buildings will be developed as a single shop at the prime city centre location, facing the Spire and the GPO.
It will be accessed from O'Connell Street Upper, Henry Street and Henry Place.
Another objection came in from street traders in the Henry Place area who said the development may "eradicate" their business, leaving them with no income. One seller told Dublin City Council: "I believe this development would create an inordinate amount of noise and dust pollution for the duration of the build. This would make it virtually impossible to carry on my business."
Nevertheless, the local authority deemed the designs suitable to the location and granted permission.
However, it said Percy Nominees should agree proposals with the council to provide for the "continuing operation" of licensed street traders whose trading pitch would be directly affected by construction work.
Included in the other conditions is a requirement that historic features of the buildings be "reused where possible" to ensure all works are carried out "in accordance with best conservation practice".
The council granted permission for the project late last month but it is likely an appeal will be lodged with An Bord Pleanala.
comurphy@herald.ie
Evening Herald
www.bpsplanningconsultants.ie
Permission has been granted for the demolition of numbers 32 and 33 Henry Street despite opposition from a heritage body.
Percy Nominees Ltd applied for approval to knock down the structures and partially demolish and alter the interior of 68 and 69 O'Connell Street Upper.
While supporting the regeneration of the site, An Taisce strongly objected to elements of the plan.
"While the refurbishment and conservation element of this proposal is welcome, An Taisce cannot support demolition of historic streetscape buildings," the national trust stated.
It does not consider the "good quality" structures in this location "expendable".
"While we welcome the repair and conservation of the Georgian building on the corner of O'Connell Street and Henry Street, which appears to be original to the mid-18th century Gardiner's Mall development, we consider that the demolition and replacement of Nos 32 and 33 is unacceptable," An Taisce said.
The refurbished and rebuilt buildings will be developed as a single shop at the prime city centre location, facing the Spire and the GPO.
It will be accessed from O'Connell Street Upper, Henry Street and Henry Place.
Another objection came in from street traders in the Henry Place area who said the development may "eradicate" their business, leaving them with no income. One seller told Dublin City Council: "I believe this development would create an inordinate amount of noise and dust pollution for the duration of the build. This would make it virtually impossible to carry on my business."
Nevertheless, the local authority deemed the designs suitable to the location and granted permission.
However, it said Percy Nominees should agree proposals with the council to provide for the "continuing operation" of licensed street traders whose trading pitch would be directly affected by construction work.
Included in the other conditions is a requirement that historic features of the buildings be "reused where possible" to ensure all works are carried out "in accordance with best conservation practice".
The council granted permission for the project late last month but it is likely an appeal will be lodged with An Bord Pleanala.
comurphy@herald.ie
Evening Herald
www.bpsplanningconsultants.ie
Monday, 22 August 2011
Kennedy seeks go-ahead for Baldoyle site
A company belonging to the family of businessman Jim Kennedy -- who is facing a possible criminal corruption trial related to land rezonings -- has lobbed in a fresh planning application for the massive €100m-plus development of 400 homes in north Dublin.
The family's company, Regents Park Developments, was refused planning permission in 2008 by Fingal County Council for a similar development on the land which is in Baldoyle.
Mr Kennedy is not a director of the firm, which is run by his sons Joseph and Patrick as well as his wife, Antoinette Kennedy. Both Joseph and Antoinette list their addresses as being in the Isle of Man.
Application
The new planning application submitted to the local council indicates that Regents Park wants to build 400 homes, including 185 three-bedroom apartments, 49 five-bedroom houses, 14 townhouses and 61 two-bedroom apartments.
The development aims to be spread over 15 buildings varying in heights from three to eight storeys. The company also wants to build a creche and three retail units at the site.
A previously rejected planning application called for 422 homes, a creche and six retail units. At the time, it had been expected to cost in the region of €200m to build.
Late last year, Barford Holdings, a Bahamas-registered company understood to be linked to the Kennedys, approached Fingal County Council seeking outline planning permission to build a three-storey 150-bedroom hotel and a retirement home on the controversial former racecourse in Baldoyle.
The council granted that outline permission in January.
Jim Kennedy -- whose family still owns an amusement arcade on Dublin's Westmoreland Street -- was charged with corruption last October in the District Court after he had been detained by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). CAB has been investigating Mr Kennedy's UK-based Jackson Way property company.
Mr Kennedy was charged alongside three former councillors, and one sitting councillor. Mr Kennedy was charged with 16 offences, including allegations of payments made to former Dublin city councillor Sean Gilbride, to former Dublin city councillor Jack Larkin and to former Dublin city councillor Liam Cosgrave.
It is alleged that Mr Kennedy made payments in an effort to induce politicians to rezone land at Carrickmines in south Dublin. Mr Kennedy was granted a stay on his impending trial late last month by the Supreme Court, pending that court's determination of his appeal against the High Court's refusal to stop his trial, which is slated to begin in October.
John Mulligan
Irish Independent
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The family's company, Regents Park Developments, was refused planning permission in 2008 by Fingal County Council for a similar development on the land which is in Baldoyle.
Mr Kennedy is not a director of the firm, which is run by his sons Joseph and Patrick as well as his wife, Antoinette Kennedy. Both Joseph and Antoinette list their addresses as being in the Isle of Man.
Application
The new planning application submitted to the local council indicates that Regents Park wants to build 400 homes, including 185 three-bedroom apartments, 49 five-bedroom houses, 14 townhouses and 61 two-bedroom apartments.
The development aims to be spread over 15 buildings varying in heights from three to eight storeys. The company also wants to build a creche and three retail units at the site.
A previously rejected planning application called for 422 homes, a creche and six retail units. At the time, it had been expected to cost in the region of €200m to build.
Late last year, Barford Holdings, a Bahamas-registered company understood to be linked to the Kennedys, approached Fingal County Council seeking outline planning permission to build a three-storey 150-bedroom hotel and a retirement home on the controversial former racecourse in Baldoyle.
The council granted that outline permission in January.
Jim Kennedy -- whose family still owns an amusement arcade on Dublin's Westmoreland Street -- was charged with corruption last October in the District Court after he had been detained by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). CAB has been investigating Mr Kennedy's UK-based Jackson Way property company.
Mr Kennedy was charged alongside three former councillors, and one sitting councillor. Mr Kennedy was charged with 16 offences, including allegations of payments made to former Dublin city councillor Sean Gilbride, to former Dublin city councillor Jack Larkin and to former Dublin city councillor Liam Cosgrave.
It is alleged that Mr Kennedy made payments in an effort to induce politicians to rezone land at Carrickmines in south Dublin. Mr Kennedy was granted a stay on his impending trial late last month by the Supreme Court, pending that court's determination of his appeal against the High Court's refusal to stop his trial, which is slated to begin in October.
John Mulligan
Irish Independent
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Fitzwilliam's new rooms
Michael Holland’s Fitzwilliam Hotel on St Stephen’s Green has been granted permission to add 34 new bedrooms, bringing the total number of rooms to 173. The plan didn’t attract any objections but Holland’s not yet in the clear as Fergus Dowd, the senior property fund manager at Irish Life, had submitted an observation saying they wished to “reserve our position”. That means they have the right to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála if they decide to do so.
Irish Life’s interest comes from its stake in the St Stephen’s Green shopping centre, which it owns with investor Pierse Moloney. They’re currently planning to put a 12-screen cinema on top of the centre at a cost of €9 million.
The multiplex will be run by the Anderson family, one of the most prominent in Irish cinema. It’s also a revisiting of history as the Andersons sold the Green cinema to the Slazenger family, as part of the site assembly for the existing shopping centre, more than 25 years ago.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Irish Life’s interest comes from its stake in the St Stephen’s Green shopping centre, which it owns with investor Pierse Moloney. They’re currently planning to put a 12-screen cinema on top of the centre at a cost of €9 million.
The multiplex will be run by the Anderson family, one of the most prominent in Irish cinema. It’s also a revisiting of history as the Andersons sold the Green cinema to the Slazenger family, as part of the site assembly for the existing shopping centre, more than 25 years ago.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Families to meet Nama on 1916 site
RELATIVES OF the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation will meet this week with the board of the National Asset Management Agency (Nama) to discuss plans to partially demolish buildings on Dublin’s Moore Lane, said to have been occupied by the leaders of the Easter Rising.
Members of the Connolly, Clarke, Ceannt, MacDonagh and Plunkett families will meet Nama chairman Frank Daly and chief executive Brendan MacDonagh on Thursday.
The 19th-century buildings at 17 and 18 Moore Lane have been judged unsafe by Dublin City Council, which has ordered they be lowered in height to make them safe. The buildings, which back on to Moore Street, form part of the Carlton site due to be redeveloped by Dundrum Shopping Centre developer Joe O’Reilly.
Mr O’Reilly was granted permission last year for a large-scale development to include retail and residential units, restaurants and car spaces. He is one of the first 10 developers going into Nama. He was also named as one of 10 Anglo Irish Bank customers who borrowed from the lender to buy a 10 per cent stake in the bank.
The relatives’ group sought the meeting with Nama to express their opposition to Mr O’Reilly being facilitated “in any way” by the agency to proceed with his 800,000 sq ft development.
The scheme, which was granted planning permission last March by An Bord Pleanála, encompasses an area of 2.7 hectares.
Due to their historic role, four houses on Moore Street were designated national monuments by then minister for the environment Dick Roche in 2007. Number 16 Moore Street is said to be where the rebel leaders made the decision to surrender to British forces after the Rising. The Moore Lane buildings are not protected structures, but campaigners say they should be preserved.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Members of the Connolly, Clarke, Ceannt, MacDonagh and Plunkett families will meet Nama chairman Frank Daly and chief executive Brendan MacDonagh on Thursday.
The 19th-century buildings at 17 and 18 Moore Lane have been judged unsafe by Dublin City Council, which has ordered they be lowered in height to make them safe. The buildings, which back on to Moore Street, form part of the Carlton site due to be redeveloped by Dundrum Shopping Centre developer Joe O’Reilly.
Mr O’Reilly was granted permission last year for a large-scale development to include retail and residential units, restaurants and car spaces. He is one of the first 10 developers going into Nama. He was also named as one of 10 Anglo Irish Bank customers who borrowed from the lender to buy a 10 per cent stake in the bank.
The relatives’ group sought the meeting with Nama to express their opposition to Mr O’Reilly being facilitated “in any way” by the agency to proceed with his 800,000 sq ft development.
The scheme, which was granted planning permission last March by An Bord Pleanála, encompasses an area of 2.7 hectares.
Due to their historic role, four houses on Moore Street were designated national monuments by then minister for the environment Dick Roche in 2007. Number 16 Moore Street is said to be where the rebel leaders made the decision to surrender to British forces after the Rising. The Moore Lane buildings are not protected structures, but campaigners say they should be preserved.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Oh Ambassador, you're spoiling the neighbourhood
In leafy, exclusive Dublin 4, embassies with plans for expansion must keep neighbouring residents’ groups sweet
NEWS that the Belgian Embassy is likely to go ahead with plans to move its operations from Shrewsbury Road to its ambassador’s residence on Ailesbury Road in Dublin 4 will have residents of both roads nervous that their genteel world is about to be disrupted.
The move will leave yet another gaping hole on Shrewsbury Road, where a number of properties lie empty, including Walford, the property bought by Séan Dunne for €56 million at the height of the boom, and a number of others, including 1 and 3 Shrewsbury Road, owned by Derek Quinlan.
Over on Ailesbury Road, residents will be bracing themselves for the upheaval caused by the dust and noise of construction and the increase in embassy personnel coming to and from the Belgian property.
The Belgian embassy, which currently rents Shrewsbury House, at 2 Shrewsbury Road says it is likely to proceed with its plan next year to move its entire operation to 44-46 Ailesbury Road, the Belgian embassy residence.
It got planning permission several years ago for four small buildings to the rear of the house on Ailesbury Road which will be used as chancery offices
The Belgian embassy is only the latest in a series of embassies looking to streamline its operations and build 21st-century office accommodation.
More than half the foreign embassies in Dublin are located in Ballsbridge – 29 out of 52 – because it’s close to the city centre yet the exclusivity of its streets affords a certain amount of security and privacy.
On the downside, however, upgrading or expanding a premises in the area is not an easy process. Wikileaks aren’t the only thing that the world of diplomacy has to contend with. Behind every quiet, leafy, exclusive residential street in the embassy belt of Dublin 4 is a formidable residents group ready to mobilise at the first sign that a foreign government is planning a development that could disturb the status quo
The prospect of possible future battles with residents doesn’t seem to put them off locating there. An estate agent told us that four non-EU embassies are currently looking at property on Shrewsbury Road with a view to buying, taking advantage of the plummet in property prices.
While some of the wealthy property developer denizens of Ballsbridge have left the area (some amid a blaze of publicity), there remains a strong band of long-term residents who are well acquainted with the planning laws and who are tiring of the constant stream of activity in and out of some embassies.
Resident power prevailed in October when an attempt by Pennyvale Property Limited to get planning permission for embassy use for a large detached house at Fintragh, 11 Shrewsbury Road, was refused by Dublin City Council on the grounds that it was an unsuitable development in a conservation area.
Resident Anne Neary, a solicitor, commented in her submission to the council that she believed the real intention was to get commercial office use for the building. “The very word embassy conjures up an image in the mind’s eye of a family home of an ambassador and his or her family with the occasional formal social affair in the evening and a sedate office presence,” says Neary.
“Just because someone sticks the title ‘ambassador’ on the door of a small back office on the upper floor does not turn it into an embassy.”
Ailesbury Road residents’ assocation came across just such a scenario last year when Derek Quinlan attempted to convert a house at 43 Ailesbury Road from embassy use to office use. Quinlan subsequently lost a High Court challenge to An Bord Pleanála’s refusal of permission for the scheme. Counsel for an Bord Pleanála commented in court that the fact that there was already permission for embassy use “was not a springboard” to a different use.
Nuala Johnson, a resident who opposed Quinlan, refused to comment on the Belgian embassy development except to say the residents are on “good terms with the embassy” who have been “very co-operative”. She said however, they are vigilant “if there’s a demand for that” and have been keeping an eye on developments for the past 12 years.
The association wasn’t so reticent last year when the owner of 47 Ailesbury Road – where the Romanian Embassy is located – sought to have the dwelling changed to embassy use. “There are already a number of embassy offices/chancelleries which would be more appropriately situated in a commercial district,” was their observation to An Bord Pleanála.
Next door neighbour Dr John Crowe complained in his appeal that a number of embassies, including the Chinese and Polish, attracted “significant pedestrian and vehicular movements including queuing, protests, polling and tarmacking of gardens to increase parking”. The board subsequently ruled in favour of the embassy development.
Meanwhile, around the corner on Merrion Road, local residents have been scrutinising plans by the Indian Government for a consulate at 69 Merrion Road, which is now at pre-planning stage. It involves building a cultural centre and a 186sq m (2,000sq ft) staff quarters that would usurp the rear garden of the Victorian semi-detached house. The intensification of the site and the addition of a large extension to accomodate a lift shaft and stairs to the back of the house is of major concern to the neighbours who say they intend to contest the scheme fully.
The Indian government bought the two-storey over basement redbrick in 2008 for a figure thought to be around €4.75 million.
While most of the countries opening embassies here still favour residential streets in upmarket south Dublin suburbs, a number have opted for modern office premises in the south city centre, such as the Brazilian Embassy in the Harcourt Centre, Charlotte Way, the Slovenian Embassy on Nassau Street and the Australian and Canadian embassies both on Wilton Terrace. The Japanese run their embassy business out of a modest office above the Merrion Shopping Centre.
John O’Sullivan of Lisney says embassies’ budgets vary and quite a few rent “because they can’t justify buying a property here”.
“The ones opening offices here are mostly emerging or non-EU countries who now have a lot of citizens in the country and require an embassy. Many of the European nations no longer require a presence in each country.”
This is certainly the case for Sweden which closed its office in Dublin earlier this year and moved its ambassador to Ireland back to Stockholm.
In a reversal of the trend in Dublin 4 for residents to object to embassy developments, the Canadian ambassador, whose residence is on Oakley Road in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, is objecting to a planning application by Scoil Bhríde next door to extend its classrooms because of overlooking and an increase in illegal parking by parents collecting children from school.
The ambassador may be wishing that his country hadn’t sold Strathmore, the Killiney estate on nine acres, in 2007. It had been the ambassador’s residence for more than 50 years. It was sold as part of a Canadian initative to downsize its embassies around the world. Another reason given was that it was too far from the city centre. But it was also blissfully removed from the headaches that having neighbours entails.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
NEWS that the Belgian Embassy is likely to go ahead with plans to move its operations from Shrewsbury Road to its ambassador’s residence on Ailesbury Road in Dublin 4 will have residents of both roads nervous that their genteel world is about to be disrupted.
The move will leave yet another gaping hole on Shrewsbury Road, where a number of properties lie empty, including Walford, the property bought by Séan Dunne for €56 million at the height of the boom, and a number of others, including 1 and 3 Shrewsbury Road, owned by Derek Quinlan.
Over on Ailesbury Road, residents will be bracing themselves for the upheaval caused by the dust and noise of construction and the increase in embassy personnel coming to and from the Belgian property.
The Belgian embassy, which currently rents Shrewsbury House, at 2 Shrewsbury Road says it is likely to proceed with its plan next year to move its entire operation to 44-46 Ailesbury Road, the Belgian embassy residence.
It got planning permission several years ago for four small buildings to the rear of the house on Ailesbury Road which will be used as chancery offices
The Belgian embassy is only the latest in a series of embassies looking to streamline its operations and build 21st-century office accommodation.
More than half the foreign embassies in Dublin are located in Ballsbridge – 29 out of 52 – because it’s close to the city centre yet the exclusivity of its streets affords a certain amount of security and privacy.
On the downside, however, upgrading or expanding a premises in the area is not an easy process. Wikileaks aren’t the only thing that the world of diplomacy has to contend with. Behind every quiet, leafy, exclusive residential street in the embassy belt of Dublin 4 is a formidable residents group ready to mobilise at the first sign that a foreign government is planning a development that could disturb the status quo
The prospect of possible future battles with residents doesn’t seem to put them off locating there. An estate agent told us that four non-EU embassies are currently looking at property on Shrewsbury Road with a view to buying, taking advantage of the plummet in property prices.
While some of the wealthy property developer denizens of Ballsbridge have left the area (some amid a blaze of publicity), there remains a strong band of long-term residents who are well acquainted with the planning laws and who are tiring of the constant stream of activity in and out of some embassies.
Resident power prevailed in October when an attempt by Pennyvale Property Limited to get planning permission for embassy use for a large detached house at Fintragh, 11 Shrewsbury Road, was refused by Dublin City Council on the grounds that it was an unsuitable development in a conservation area.
Resident Anne Neary, a solicitor, commented in her submission to the council that she believed the real intention was to get commercial office use for the building. “The very word embassy conjures up an image in the mind’s eye of a family home of an ambassador and his or her family with the occasional formal social affair in the evening and a sedate office presence,” says Neary.
“Just because someone sticks the title ‘ambassador’ on the door of a small back office on the upper floor does not turn it into an embassy.”
Ailesbury Road residents’ assocation came across just such a scenario last year when Derek Quinlan attempted to convert a house at 43 Ailesbury Road from embassy use to office use. Quinlan subsequently lost a High Court challenge to An Bord Pleanála’s refusal of permission for the scheme. Counsel for an Bord Pleanála commented in court that the fact that there was already permission for embassy use “was not a springboard” to a different use.
Nuala Johnson, a resident who opposed Quinlan, refused to comment on the Belgian embassy development except to say the residents are on “good terms with the embassy” who have been “very co-operative”. She said however, they are vigilant “if there’s a demand for that” and have been keeping an eye on developments for the past 12 years.
The association wasn’t so reticent last year when the owner of 47 Ailesbury Road – where the Romanian Embassy is located – sought to have the dwelling changed to embassy use. “There are already a number of embassy offices/chancelleries which would be more appropriately situated in a commercial district,” was their observation to An Bord Pleanála.
Next door neighbour Dr John Crowe complained in his appeal that a number of embassies, including the Chinese and Polish, attracted “significant pedestrian and vehicular movements including queuing, protests, polling and tarmacking of gardens to increase parking”. The board subsequently ruled in favour of the embassy development.
Meanwhile, around the corner on Merrion Road, local residents have been scrutinising plans by the Indian Government for a consulate at 69 Merrion Road, which is now at pre-planning stage. It involves building a cultural centre and a 186sq m (2,000sq ft) staff quarters that would usurp the rear garden of the Victorian semi-detached house. The intensification of the site and the addition of a large extension to accomodate a lift shaft and stairs to the back of the house is of major concern to the neighbours who say they intend to contest the scheme fully.
The Indian government bought the two-storey over basement redbrick in 2008 for a figure thought to be around €4.75 million.
While most of the countries opening embassies here still favour residential streets in upmarket south Dublin suburbs, a number have opted for modern office premises in the south city centre, such as the Brazilian Embassy in the Harcourt Centre, Charlotte Way, the Slovenian Embassy on Nassau Street and the Australian and Canadian embassies both on Wilton Terrace. The Japanese run their embassy business out of a modest office above the Merrion Shopping Centre.
John O’Sullivan of Lisney says embassies’ budgets vary and quite a few rent “because they can’t justify buying a property here”.
“The ones opening offices here are mostly emerging or non-EU countries who now have a lot of citizens in the country and require an embassy. Many of the European nations no longer require a presence in each country.”
This is certainly the case for Sweden which closed its office in Dublin earlier this year and moved its ambassador to Ireland back to Stockholm.
In a reversal of the trend in Dublin 4 for residents to object to embassy developments, the Canadian ambassador, whose residence is on Oakley Road in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, is objecting to a planning application by Scoil Bhríde next door to extend its classrooms because of overlooking and an increase in illegal parking by parents collecting children from school.
The ambassador may be wishing that his country hadn’t sold Strathmore, the Killiney estate on nine acres, in 2007. It had been the ambassador’s residence for more than 50 years. It was sold as part of a Canadian initative to downsize its embassies around the world. Another reason given was that it was too far from the city centre. But it was also blissfully removed from the headaches that having neighbours entails.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Plans for 1,850-seat city cinema approved
CINEMA fans on Dublin's southside are to get a new 11-screen cinema on top of the car park at
CINEMa fans on Dublin's southside are to get a new 11-screen cinema on top of the car park at Stephen's Green Shopping Centre.
Dublin City Council's planning officials have approved the project, which will have the capacity to accommodate up to 1,850 movie-goers.
Sources close to the developers said that they hoped to start work on the project next year, depending on the finalisation of the planning process.
Chain
Ward Anderson, the country's long-established and largest cinema chain, plans to develop the project in conjunction with the shopping centre's landlord, Irish Life Assurance.
Ward Anderson also operates the only other commercial south-city cinema, The Screen, facing the northern side of Trinity, and is also planning to re-open the cinema at The Square in Tallaght.
Ireland has one of the highest cinema audiences in the world per head of population and more than 17.6 million people are expected to attend films this year.
- Donal Buckley
Irish Independent
Dublin City Council's planning officials have approved the project, which will have the capacity to accommodate up to 1,850 movie-goers.
Sources close to the developers said that they hoped to start work on the project next year, depending on the finalisation of the planning process.
Chain
Ward Anderson, the country's long-established and largest cinema chain, plans to develop the project in conjunction with the shopping centre's landlord, Irish Life Assurance.
Ward Anderson also operates the only other commercial south-city cinema, The Screen, facing the northern side of Trinity, and is also planning to re-open the cinema at The Square in Tallaght.
Ireland has one of the highest cinema audiences in the world per head of population and more than 17.6 million people are expected to attend films this year.
Donal Buckley
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
CINEMa fans on Dublin's southside are to get a new 11-screen cinema on top of the car park at Stephen's Green Shopping Centre.
Dublin City Council's planning officials have approved the project, which will have the capacity to accommodate up to 1,850 movie-goers.
Sources close to the developers said that they hoped to start work on the project next year, depending on the finalisation of the planning process.
Chain
Ward Anderson, the country's long-established and largest cinema chain, plans to develop the project in conjunction with the shopping centre's landlord, Irish Life Assurance.
Ward Anderson also operates the only other commercial south-city cinema, The Screen, facing the northern side of Trinity, and is also planning to re-open the cinema at The Square in Tallaght.
Ireland has one of the highest cinema audiences in the world per head of population and more than 17.6 million people are expected to attend films this year.
- Donal Buckley
Irish Independent
Dublin City Council's planning officials have approved the project, which will have the capacity to accommodate up to 1,850 movie-goers.
Sources close to the developers said that they hoped to start work on the project next year, depending on the finalisation of the planning process.
Chain
Ward Anderson, the country's long-established and largest cinema chain, plans to develop the project in conjunction with the shopping centre's landlord, Irish Life Assurance.
Ward Anderson also operates the only other commercial south-city cinema, The Screen, facing the northern side of Trinity, and is also planning to re-open the cinema at The Square in Tallaght.
Ireland has one of the highest cinema audiences in the world per head of population and more than 17.6 million people are expected to attend films this year.
Donal Buckley
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Bord rejects M&S's plans
An Bord Pleanála has told Marks Spencer it can’t build a 10-storey extension to the rear of its store (above) in the Jervis Centre on Mary Street, Dublin 1 because it could interfere with the operation of the Luas. This decision overturns an earlier one by Dublin City Council to approve the development subject to over 20 planning conditions.
MS wanted to develop the building as part of a wider plan to expand and revamp its store. It wanted to demolish a two-storey structure to the rear of the store and build a 10-storey retail, commercial and residential scheme fronting Upper Abbey Street and Liffey Street.
This would have provided an extension to the ground and first floor level retail space located mainly in the six-storey Mary Street building with seven floors of 42 apartments above. However, the Railway Procurement Agency appealed the planning permission to An Bord Pleanála saying MS had failed “to address the concerns over road user safety which RPA consider will arise from the proposed development”.
An Bord Pleanála also ruled that, given its prominent location on Upper Abbey Street (visible from a number of sensitive locations including O’Connell Street), the scheme’s excessive height and scale would be “overly dominant” on the landscape. It ruled that the size and layout of the proposed service yard and proximity of vehicular access to Luas stops could pose a serious traffic hazard “and interfere with the efficient operation of the Luas”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
MS wanted to develop the building as part of a wider plan to expand and revamp its store. It wanted to demolish a two-storey structure to the rear of the store and build a 10-storey retail, commercial and residential scheme fronting Upper Abbey Street and Liffey Street.
This would have provided an extension to the ground and first floor level retail space located mainly in the six-storey Mary Street building with seven floors of 42 apartments above. However, the Railway Procurement Agency appealed the planning permission to An Bord Pleanála saying MS had failed “to address the concerns over road user safety which RPA consider will arise from the proposed development”.
An Bord Pleanála also ruled that, given its prominent location on Upper Abbey Street (visible from a number of sensitive locations including O’Connell Street), the scheme’s excessive height and scale would be “overly dominant” on the landscape. It ruled that the size and layout of the proposed service yard and proximity of vehicular access to Luas stops could pose a serious traffic hazard “and interfere with the efficient operation of the Luas”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Carroll's offices aimed at BoI staff approved
Liam Carroll's development vehicle Danninger, which is in receivership following a move by AIB, has been given the go-ahead for a huge office complex in Dublin's north docks which was originally targeted as a back office for Bank of Ireland. About 8,000 people would have been based in the building if a deal had been agreed.
The developer had tried to woo the bank to the north docks as part of his plan for a domestic financial services centre which would have involved new offices being developed for Anglo Irish Bank, AIB and Bank of Ireland. He spent €250m buying up land for the plan. In the end construction commenced only on the block earmarked for Anglo before the developer's empire collapsed.
The Anglo block is unfinished due to a planning dispute. It has been before An Bord Pleanála for 14 months and the board has yet to make a decision on its validity. If it rules against it, the building may be demolished.
Before development can take place on the site originally earmarked for BoI, a fee of €3.7m will have to be paid to Dublin City Council and another €770,000 will have to be paid towards the Metro North project.
The plan for three interconnected office blocks and a landscaped park was approved by the council subject to standard conditions.
Carroll's talks with AIB Capital Markets at the time involved a plan to raise the height of a building planned for the site to 110 metres, nearly twice the height of Liberty Hall.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The developer had tried to woo the bank to the north docks as part of his plan for a domestic financial services centre which would have involved new offices being developed for Anglo Irish Bank, AIB and Bank of Ireland. He spent €250m buying up land for the plan. In the end construction commenced only on the block earmarked for Anglo before the developer's empire collapsed.
The Anglo block is unfinished due to a planning dispute. It has been before An Bord Pleanála for 14 months and the board has yet to make a decision on its validity. If it rules against it, the building may be demolished.
Before development can take place on the site originally earmarked for BoI, a fee of €3.7m will have to be paid to Dublin City Council and another €770,000 will have to be paid towards the Metro North project.
The plan for three interconnected office blocks and a landscaped park was approved by the council subject to standard conditions.
Carroll's talks with AIB Capital Markets at the time involved a plan to raise the height of a building planned for the site to 110 metres, nearly twice the height of Liberty Hall.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Court reserves judgment on Westwood
THE HIGH Court has reserved judgment in a case taken by a leading Dublin leisure centre against a refusal of retention planning permission for parts of the business, including a bar and nightclub.
Westwood Leisure Centre on Clontarf Road is seeking to overturn a decision by An Bord Pleanála refusing planning permission for the retention of extensive portions of the premises, including the Bar Code nightclub.
The owners of the club, Templeville Developments, may have to close or demolish numerous alterations and extensions to the premises if the court opts to uphold the planners’ decision.
In 2008, the board upheld Dublin City Council’s decision to grant retention permission for elements of the complex that were ancillary to its use as a leisure centre but said other extensions were built without planning approval. It said the elements being retained “shall not be used at any time for the sale or consumption of intoxicating liquor”.
The council first began legal proceedings aimed at closing the bar in 2003, but these were adjourned to allow for the planning application. Templeville then sought and was refused retention permission, and An Bord Pleanála upheld this decision in September 2008. The company sought a judicial review and the hearing was heard over five days late last year.
The council is now reinstating its case in relation to the unauthorised bar but says it can’t go ahead until the High Court appeal is decided.
Phillip Smyth, who controls Templeville Developments and runs two other clubs at Leopardstown and Sandymount, says he has been advised by lawyers not to comment.
The club is home to the country’s first 50m swimming pool, and its owners claim the bar is needed to subsidise other operations.
It says Bar Code occupies just 1 per cent of the overall floor space and claims local residents have been given assurances over the operation of the nightclub.
The council is also seeking rent arrears from the Westwood owners for the use of a carpark which the council owns.
The club has not paid for the use of the land since the mid-1990s, but the council has denied a claim by local Fine Gael councillor Gerry Breen that it has acquired a squatter’s title as a result.
In 2007, the council and Templeville agreed the terms of a lease for the carpark. Rent was agreed at €25,000 a year, abated to €1,000 a year for the first 10 years to offset expenditure by the club in surfacing the carpark.
The council says it has asked Templeville to pay the arrears, but nothing has been received yet. A council spokesman said there was an issue with the right of way at the carpark but this was resolved in the past few months and “all legal avenues” were being used to secure payment.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Westwood Leisure Centre on Clontarf Road is seeking to overturn a decision by An Bord Pleanála refusing planning permission for the retention of extensive portions of the premises, including the Bar Code nightclub.
The owners of the club, Templeville Developments, may have to close or demolish numerous alterations and extensions to the premises if the court opts to uphold the planners’ decision.
In 2008, the board upheld Dublin City Council’s decision to grant retention permission for elements of the complex that were ancillary to its use as a leisure centre but said other extensions were built without planning approval. It said the elements being retained “shall not be used at any time for the sale or consumption of intoxicating liquor”.
The council first began legal proceedings aimed at closing the bar in 2003, but these were adjourned to allow for the planning application. Templeville then sought and was refused retention permission, and An Bord Pleanála upheld this decision in September 2008. The company sought a judicial review and the hearing was heard over five days late last year.
The council is now reinstating its case in relation to the unauthorised bar but says it can’t go ahead until the High Court appeal is decided.
Phillip Smyth, who controls Templeville Developments and runs two other clubs at Leopardstown and Sandymount, says he has been advised by lawyers not to comment.
The club is home to the country’s first 50m swimming pool, and its owners claim the bar is needed to subsidise other operations.
It says Bar Code occupies just 1 per cent of the overall floor space and claims local residents have been given assurances over the operation of the nightclub.
The council is also seeking rent arrears from the Westwood owners for the use of a carpark which the council owns.
The club has not paid for the use of the land since the mid-1990s, but the council has denied a claim by local Fine Gael councillor Gerry Breen that it has acquired a squatter’s title as a result.
In 2007, the council and Templeville agreed the terms of a lease for the carpark. Rent was agreed at €25,000 a year, abated to €1,000 a year for the first 10 years to offset expenditure by the club in surfacing the carpark.
The council says it has asked Templeville to pay the arrears, but nothing has been received yet. A council spokesman said there was an issue with the right of way at the carpark but this was resolved in the past few months and “all legal avenues” were being used to secure payment.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 7 December 2009
Capel seeks planning for Navan Road site
Capel Developments has applied for planning permission for a development of 260 homes on its Ashtown site off the Navan Road in Dublin 15.
The firm wants to build a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and duplex units. The units will be in two apartment blocks ranging between five and 11 storeys in height. The plans include 266 car parking spaces, most of which would be at basement level, and a 3,000 square metre landscaped park with a water feature.
The planned development is part of the firm’s Ashtown development off Rathborne Avenue, and is next to the Ashtown train station. In 2006, Capel paid more than €70 million to Castlethorn Construction for 12.4 acres of land at the site.
The development firm has sold 350 units in the completed Waterways, Crescent and Earlswood residential schemes. If further construction is permitted on the full site, as intended, almost 1,200 units could be built there.
There have been several applications for permission for big developments, despite a lack of activity in the new homes market.
Capel had revenues of €19.5 million for the year ending February 29, 2008, but made a pre-tax loss of €43.5 million for the year. The firm said it relied on the support of its banks to continue trading after recording the ‘‘substantial loss’’.
At the end of February 2008, Capel has bank borrowings of €110 million, the same figure as the year before. The Dublin firm, which is owned by John O’Connor, Eddie Keegan and Liam Kelly, has been reducing the prices on a number of its developments in an effort to boost sales.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
The firm wants to build a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and duplex units. The units will be in two apartment blocks ranging between five and 11 storeys in height. The plans include 266 car parking spaces, most of which would be at basement level, and a 3,000 square metre landscaped park with a water feature.
The planned development is part of the firm’s Ashtown development off Rathborne Avenue, and is next to the Ashtown train station. In 2006, Capel paid more than €70 million to Castlethorn Construction for 12.4 acres of land at the site.
The development firm has sold 350 units in the completed Waterways, Crescent and Earlswood residential schemes. If further construction is permitted on the full site, as intended, almost 1,200 units could be built there.
There have been several applications for permission for big developments, despite a lack of activity in the new homes market.
Capel had revenues of €19.5 million for the year ending February 29, 2008, but made a pre-tax loss of €43.5 million for the year. The firm said it relied on the support of its banks to continue trading after recording the ‘‘substantial loss’’.
At the end of February 2008, Capel has bank borrowings of €110 million, the same figure as the year before. The Dublin firm, which is owned by John O’Connor, Eddie Keegan and Liam Kelly, has been reducing the prices on a number of its developments in an effort to boost sales.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Work starts on new TCD building
The sod was turned today on a new building which will house an arts and humanities research institute in Trinity College Dublin.
Among those working in the Trinity Long Room Hub will be the team that is digitising the valuable books of the universities’ famous Long Room library in order to display them online to the world.
The building will facilitate a programme for postgraduate students and their projects. It will also host post-doctoral research facilities and offices for international fellows.
The four storey granite clad building is located between the 1937 Reading Room and the Arts Building and is due to be completed by April 2010.
It will house a 90 seat lecture theatre for presentations many of which will be broadcast online.
A seminar room will support video-conferencing of academic and managerial meetings with national and international partners.
“This is a fascinating time of innovation for the arts and humanities at Trinity College as the past meets the future through technology and advanced research methodologies,” Prof Poul Holm, academic cirector of Trinity Long Room Hub said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Among those working in the Trinity Long Room Hub will be the team that is digitising the valuable books of the universities’ famous Long Room library in order to display them online to the world.
The building will facilitate a programme for postgraduate students and their projects. It will also host post-doctoral research facilities and offices for international fellows.
The four storey granite clad building is located between the 1937 Reading Room and the Arts Building and is due to be completed by April 2010.
It will house a 90 seat lecture theatre for presentations many of which will be broadcast online.
A seminar room will support video-conferencing of academic and managerial meetings with national and international partners.
“This is a fascinating time of innovation for the arts and humanities at Trinity College as the past meets the future through technology and advanced research methodologies,” Prof Poul Holm, academic cirector of Trinity Long Room Hub said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Coffee houses 'a third place' between work and home
EFFORTS TO revive Dublin’s 18th-century tradition of lively coffee houses are to be actively supported by Dublin City Council, a conference on “cafe culture” heard yesterday.
The conference was told by Dublin City architect Dick Grogan that a high-level group was seeking ways to promote activities such as coffee houses, which he said had an important role in fostering discourse within the city and “enlivening the public realm”.
The conference was organised by the Cafe Culture Project, which included many of those who campaigned to keep Bewleys open in Grafton Street in 2004.
The conference also featured a number of audience renditions of Leo Maguire’s Dublin Can be Heaven, along with lots of sticky buns and coffee.
Prof Kieran M Bonner of St Jerome’s University, Canada, said coffee houses, like pubs, were essentially a “third place” between the private realm of home and the place of duty which was work. The third place was a forum for public discourse, enjoyed particularly by lawyers, actors, journalists and politicians and one in which Dublin had a long tradition, he said.
He postulated the theory that a decline of the “third place” represented a decline in the life of the city, with the urban environment becoming just a “passageway” between work and home. This may have been why, he suggested, the threatened closure of Bewleys “had raised an issue of whether Dublin was in danger of losing its soul”.
Actor Glynis Casson read from a history of Bewleys by journalist and author Hugh Oram, which recalled the cafes as forums for Dublin characters such as
Micheál MacLíammóir, “with a cape and a magnificent toupee”, singer and wit Noel Purcell, author JP Donleavy and broadcaster Terry Wogan, among others.
Divisional librarian with Dublin City Council Maire Kennedy said 18th-century Dublin had a rich tradition of coffee houses, in which lawyers particularly met to gossip and swap news. Printers and publishers as purveyors of the news were also popular in the coffee houses, she said.
One late 18th-century coffee house at the Royal Exchange later became City Hall where the city council now meets, a fact recalled by Councillor Oisin Quinn.
The chairwoman, journalist Victoria White, said she was “only here for the coffee” but the gathering was fortunate to have Mr Gleeson as he was developing the city development plan.
After a number of coffee house owners said they were in difficulty because of high rents and competition from international chains with deep pockets, Mr Gleeson said the city council might relax licensing regulations for cafes using outside seating.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The conference was told by Dublin City architect Dick Grogan that a high-level group was seeking ways to promote activities such as coffee houses, which he said had an important role in fostering discourse within the city and “enlivening the public realm”.
The conference was organised by the Cafe Culture Project, which included many of those who campaigned to keep Bewleys open in Grafton Street in 2004.
The conference also featured a number of audience renditions of Leo Maguire’s Dublin Can be Heaven, along with lots of sticky buns and coffee.
Prof Kieran M Bonner of St Jerome’s University, Canada, said coffee houses, like pubs, were essentially a “third place” between the private realm of home and the place of duty which was work. The third place was a forum for public discourse, enjoyed particularly by lawyers, actors, journalists and politicians and one in which Dublin had a long tradition, he said.
He postulated the theory that a decline of the “third place” represented a decline in the life of the city, with the urban environment becoming just a “passageway” between work and home. This may have been why, he suggested, the threatened closure of Bewleys “had raised an issue of whether Dublin was in danger of losing its soul”.
Actor Glynis Casson read from a history of Bewleys by journalist and author Hugh Oram, which recalled the cafes as forums for Dublin characters such as
Micheál MacLíammóir, “with a cape and a magnificent toupee”, singer and wit Noel Purcell, author JP Donleavy and broadcaster Terry Wogan, among others.
Divisional librarian with Dublin City Council Maire Kennedy said 18th-century Dublin had a rich tradition of coffee houses, in which lawyers particularly met to gossip and swap news. Printers and publishers as purveyors of the news were also popular in the coffee houses, she said.
One late 18th-century coffee house at the Royal Exchange later became City Hall where the city council now meets, a fact recalled by Councillor Oisin Quinn.
The chairwoman, journalist Victoria White, said she was “only here for the coffee” but the gathering was fortunate to have Mr Gleeson as he was developing the city development plan.
After a number of coffee house owners said they were in difficulty because of high rents and competition from international chains with deep pockets, Mr Gleeson said the city council might relax licensing regulations for cafes using outside seating.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Surveyors in spot of planning bother
THE SOCIETY of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) has been refused permission to convert part of its Georgian HQ into much needed office space. The SCS has always taken great pride in its period house at 5 Wilton Place, D2. But pressure on space has intensified with more surveyors looking to the SCS for help after losing their jobs. To accommodate them, the SCS sought permission to convert a top floor two-bed apartment to office/educational use and said that this would not involve physical construction works.
Planners were having none of it, as the change would be contrary to the zoning objective “to protect the existing architectural and civic design character, to allow only for limited expansion consistent with the conservation objective and to allow primarily residential and compatible office and institutional use”. It also said that by allowing the society to exceed the maximum 50 per cent office space permissible would “create a precedent for an inappropriate pattern of development”. The appeals board took the easy way out and endorsed the refusal.
The decision by the planners may have been justified when it was fashionable and profitable to own a Georgian building. Not any more, as an increasing number of these buildings become vacant as companies move to cheaper and more efficient modern space. It is now virtually impossible to let a Georgian on one of the city squares. Had the planners been in touch with what is happening on the ground they may have acceded to the wishes of the SCS. To refuse permission to a reputable society brings the planning process into disrepute. The verdict may well lead to another empty Georgian.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Planners were having none of it, as the change would be contrary to the zoning objective “to protect the existing architectural and civic design character, to allow only for limited expansion consistent with the conservation objective and to allow primarily residential and compatible office and institutional use”. It also said that by allowing the society to exceed the maximum 50 per cent office space permissible would “create a precedent for an inappropriate pattern of development”. The appeals board took the easy way out and endorsed the refusal.
The decision by the planners may have been justified when it was fashionable and profitable to own a Georgian building. Not any more, as an increasing number of these buildings become vacant as companies move to cheaper and more efficient modern space. It is now virtually impossible to let a Georgian on one of the city squares. Had the planners been in touch with what is happening on the ground they may have acceded to the wishes of the SCS. To refuse permission to a reputable society brings the planning process into disrepute. The verdict may well lead to another empty Georgian.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 9 October 2009
Iconic union building to be demolished and rebuilt
ONE of Dublin’s most iconic buildings, Liberty Hall, is to be given a complete face-lift to celebrate the centenary anniversary of its occupant SIPTU.
The plans for the new building were unveiled by the union’s general secretary, Joe O’Flynn, and architect, Des McMahon, at SIPTU’s biennial conference in Tralee yesterday.
At first sight, the new Liberty Hall appears similar to the existing building with a public entrance and conference centre topped by 16 storeys of offices and meeting rooms.
However, the premises will include a three-storey area above the offices comprised of a what the union says will be a major heritage centre, focusing on the history of the country’s labour movement, and a sky deck which will provide a view of the city.
SIPTU intends to make an application to Dublin City Council for the re-development within the next few weeks.
Joe O’Flynn said: "The present building is unable to meet the operational needs of the union in the 21st century as set out in the Strategic Commission’s report. SIPTU has seen its membership double since the current Liberty Hall structure was built almost 50 years ago. If you consider that the building has remained largely unchanged since 1965, the limited nature of the space and how it is configured has meant that re-development is the best way forward. In addition, we wanted to substantially improve the environmental performance of Liberty Hall in order to reduce running costs and cut our carbon footprint. In this context, we’re confident that the new Liberty Hall will achieve the best energy rating of any office building in Dublin.
"There was an overwhelming decision by SIPTU’s membership – as expressed in a consultation process – for the union to remain at its historic location on Eden Quay. The union has an unbreakable bond with the site, occupying the location for almost 100 years. Not only this, but the site holds considerable historical significance, with Liberty Hall playing a key role in both the 1913 Lockout and the 1916 Rising."
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The plans for the new building were unveiled by the union’s general secretary, Joe O’Flynn, and architect, Des McMahon, at SIPTU’s biennial conference in Tralee yesterday.
At first sight, the new Liberty Hall appears similar to the existing building with a public entrance and conference centre topped by 16 storeys of offices and meeting rooms.
However, the premises will include a three-storey area above the offices comprised of a what the union says will be a major heritage centre, focusing on the history of the country’s labour movement, and a sky deck which will provide a view of the city.
SIPTU intends to make an application to Dublin City Council for the re-development within the next few weeks.
Joe O’Flynn said: "The present building is unable to meet the operational needs of the union in the 21st century as set out in the Strategic Commission’s report. SIPTU has seen its membership double since the current Liberty Hall structure was built almost 50 years ago. If you consider that the building has remained largely unchanged since 1965, the limited nature of the space and how it is configured has meant that re-development is the best way forward. In addition, we wanted to substantially improve the environmental performance of Liberty Hall in order to reduce running costs and cut our carbon footprint. In this context, we’re confident that the new Liberty Hall will achieve the best energy rating of any office building in Dublin.
"There was an overwhelming decision by SIPTU’s membership – as expressed in a consultation process – for the union to remain at its historic location on Eden Quay. The union has an unbreakable bond with the site, occupying the location for almost 100 years. Not only this, but the site holds considerable historical significance, with Liberty Hall playing a key role in both the 1913 Lockout and the 1916 Rising."
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
'Sky pod' would give Liberty Hall scheme wow factor second to none, say architects
LIBERTY HALL is to be replaced by a significantly taller building with a “sky pod” on top similar to the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse, to give visitors panoramic views over the city and Dublin Bay.
Siptu unveiled details of the proposed development yesterday at an annual conference marking the trade union’s centenary. The union pledged the new Liberty Hall would have a “wow factor” second to none in the capital.
Designed by Gilroy McMahon Architects, who were also responsible for Croke Park, the facilities would include a 300-seat theatre at lower ground level, a heritage centre illustrating Siptu’s history and 15 floors of open-plan office space.
The existing 17-storey building, which is 60m (197 feet) tall, would be replaced by a 20-storey tower rising to a height of 84m with a glass-fronted “sky lift” to take visitors to an enclosed observation terrace at the top.
Unlike the present tower, which has square floorplates, the new one would be trapezoid in shape. But the architects have sought to ensure that the relative proportions of its height and scale would yield a satisfactory “slenderness ratio”.
After carrying out shadow studies to measure the impact of the proposed tower on nearby buildings as well as extensive consultations with Dublin City Council’s planners, they even shaved 2m off every floor to produce a better result.
The “sky dome”, composed of two interlocking semi-circles, would have three levels, incorporating the observation terrace and Siptu heritage centre, space for temporary exhibitions and an outdoor cafe enclosed by a 5m glazed screen.
Des McMahon, of Gilroy McMahon Architects, said it was likely to attract 250,000 visitors annually, generating good revenue for Siptu. From the terrace, it would be possible to look down on the GPO in O’Connell Street and other historic buildings.
Another important element of the new Liberty Hall’s “engagement with the public” would be its generous double-height entrance area, stretching the full width of the building, including a podium adjoining the tower not unlike the present one.
The three-storey podium, set back from Eden Quay, would have a cafe, information desk, reception area and a large cut-out in the floor through which a curving staircase would lead down to the new theatre, all lit up at night.
Ground-floor level would be raised by almost a metre, to protect the building against future floods, with more space created outside on the constricted footpath at the corner of Beresford Place by cantilevering the tower over the lower three floors.
Access to the office floors would be via four lifts at the northeastern end of the tower, protected by turnstiles, and there is also provision for two staircases. The public “skylift” would be located on the western side, with views over the Liffey Quays.
One of the principal objectives, Mr McMahon said, is to create “an appropriate, energising and inspiring” workplace for Siptu’s staff, allowing them to interact in a way they cannot do with the present arrangement of “isolated” cellular offices.
These offices are laid out around a service core that takes up 40 per cent of the floorplate on every level, compared to 30 per cent for the much larger service core now proposed. “It’s totally impossible . . . really a white elephant,” Mr McMahon said. “The Eiffel Tower is as valuable today as it was 100 years ago, but Liberty Hall is not. It was a building of its day, not unique, except for its location and timing [it was completed in 1965] and a carbon disaster in terms of its use of energy.”
Dave Richards, who was involved in designing the new building, said it would be the first office block in Dublin to achieve an A3 energy rating, with less than half the carbon dioxide output of newly-constructed air-conditioned offices.
As a result of relying on partly-assisted natural ventilation as well as low-watt lighting, solar panels and a building energy management system, Siptu would be able to reduce its annual energy bill from €450,000 to just €220,000.
Mr McMahon said he was convinced that the new Liberty Hall, which would be much broader on Eden Quay yet appear quite similar when viewed from O’Connell Bridge, would quickly become a Dublin landmark.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Siptu unveiled details of the proposed development yesterday at an annual conference marking the trade union’s centenary. The union pledged the new Liberty Hall would have a “wow factor” second to none in the capital.
Designed by Gilroy McMahon Architects, who were also responsible for Croke Park, the facilities would include a 300-seat theatre at lower ground level, a heritage centre illustrating Siptu’s history and 15 floors of open-plan office space.
The existing 17-storey building, which is 60m (197 feet) tall, would be replaced by a 20-storey tower rising to a height of 84m with a glass-fronted “sky lift” to take visitors to an enclosed observation terrace at the top.
Unlike the present tower, which has square floorplates, the new one would be trapezoid in shape. But the architects have sought to ensure that the relative proportions of its height and scale would yield a satisfactory “slenderness ratio”.
After carrying out shadow studies to measure the impact of the proposed tower on nearby buildings as well as extensive consultations with Dublin City Council’s planners, they even shaved 2m off every floor to produce a better result.
The “sky dome”, composed of two interlocking semi-circles, would have three levels, incorporating the observation terrace and Siptu heritage centre, space for temporary exhibitions and an outdoor cafe enclosed by a 5m glazed screen.
Des McMahon, of Gilroy McMahon Architects, said it was likely to attract 250,000 visitors annually, generating good revenue for Siptu. From the terrace, it would be possible to look down on the GPO in O’Connell Street and other historic buildings.
Another important element of the new Liberty Hall’s “engagement with the public” would be its generous double-height entrance area, stretching the full width of the building, including a podium adjoining the tower not unlike the present one.
The three-storey podium, set back from Eden Quay, would have a cafe, information desk, reception area and a large cut-out in the floor through which a curving staircase would lead down to the new theatre, all lit up at night.
Ground-floor level would be raised by almost a metre, to protect the building against future floods, with more space created outside on the constricted footpath at the corner of Beresford Place by cantilevering the tower over the lower three floors.
Access to the office floors would be via four lifts at the northeastern end of the tower, protected by turnstiles, and there is also provision for two staircases. The public “skylift” would be located on the western side, with views over the Liffey Quays.
One of the principal objectives, Mr McMahon said, is to create “an appropriate, energising and inspiring” workplace for Siptu’s staff, allowing them to interact in a way they cannot do with the present arrangement of “isolated” cellular offices.
These offices are laid out around a service core that takes up 40 per cent of the floorplate on every level, compared to 30 per cent for the much larger service core now proposed. “It’s totally impossible . . . really a white elephant,” Mr McMahon said. “The Eiffel Tower is as valuable today as it was 100 years ago, but Liberty Hall is not. It was a building of its day, not unique, except for its location and timing [it was completed in 1965] and a carbon disaster in terms of its use of energy.”
Dave Richards, who was involved in designing the new building, said it would be the first office block in Dublin to achieve an A3 energy rating, with less than half the carbon dioxide output of newly-constructed air-conditioned offices.
As a result of relying on partly-assisted natural ventilation as well as low-watt lighting, solar panels and a building energy management system, Siptu would be able to reduce its annual energy bill from €450,000 to just €220,000.
Mr McMahon said he was convinced that the new Liberty Hall, which would be much broader on Eden Quay yet appear quite similar when viewed from O’Connell Bridge, would quickly become a Dublin landmark.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
RTÉ planning €360m revamp
A €360 MILLION redevelopment of the RTÉ Montrose site will be funded mainly through borrowing and the rental of offices and residences at the broadcasting hub.
The national broadcaster yesterday unveiled an ambitious 15-year plan to put in place the sort of modern facilities necessary for the digital age.
The bulldozing of landmark buildings at the Donnybrook studios is expected to begin in late 2011, if planning permission is secured.
RTÉ said the redevelopment would not be funded through TV licence fees.
The project will see a gradual replacement of most of the 1960s and 1970s buildings.
Announcing the five-phase development, RTÉ director general Cathal Goan said: "Clearly this is not an ideal time to be announcing a large proposed construction project. But to remain competitive and to continue to give Irish viewers, listeners and web-users the best possible services, we have to invest in new facilities built for the digital age."
RTÉ announced the huge building plan ahead of submitting a 10-year planning application to Dublin City Council, in advance of the authority’s review of land rezoning next month.
The proposal includes mixed zoning, including residential units to the front of the 32-acre site which will either be rented or possibly sold. New offices and multimedia facilities will also be rented and are expected to help fund the loan.
Montrose staff will be given an opportunity to view the plans from 10am today, and trade unions and management were briefed yesterday on the project.
RTÉ will continue to broadcast while the new buildings will be constructed at the Donnybrook village end of the land. It is expected that 670 construction jobs will be provided during the project.
It will be built in five phases, depending on finances available. RTÉ have also not ruled out not being able to complete the huge plan, and have prioritised its new high-definition studios, which will cost €140m.
"We are confident that the most cost-effective, sustainable and technically robust option available is to reconfigure our existing site and incorporate all facilities into a single new building," Mr Goan said.
Under the plans, sections of the new building, which will take up nearly half the Donnybrook site, will rise to 33 metres, double that of the current highest building.
RTÉ senior officials are keen to have state-of-the-art digital and online facilities by 2012, to compete with other broadcasters like the BBC.
During planning, officials were sent abroad to look at other studios in Denmark, Finland, Scotland and Hungary.
The new building will also save electricity with better insulation and construction. At present, Montrose uses the same amount of electricity as Kilkenny city.
Most of the €360m will be borrowed on the basis of revenue from renting future facilities.
Some funds will also come from its cash reserves and upkeep budget.
RTÉ have not ruled out any joint venture on parts of the site and expect it will be 2016 at the earliest before sections are completed.
Changes will include doubling the audience capacity for the Late Late Show from 400 to 800.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The national broadcaster yesterday unveiled an ambitious 15-year plan to put in place the sort of modern facilities necessary for the digital age.
The bulldozing of landmark buildings at the Donnybrook studios is expected to begin in late 2011, if planning permission is secured.
RTÉ said the redevelopment would not be funded through TV licence fees.
The project will see a gradual replacement of most of the 1960s and 1970s buildings.
Announcing the five-phase development, RTÉ director general Cathal Goan said: "Clearly this is not an ideal time to be announcing a large proposed construction project. But to remain competitive and to continue to give Irish viewers, listeners and web-users the best possible services, we have to invest in new facilities built for the digital age."
RTÉ announced the huge building plan ahead of submitting a 10-year planning application to Dublin City Council, in advance of the authority’s review of land rezoning next month.
The proposal includes mixed zoning, including residential units to the front of the 32-acre site which will either be rented or possibly sold. New offices and multimedia facilities will also be rented and are expected to help fund the loan.
Montrose staff will be given an opportunity to view the plans from 10am today, and trade unions and management were briefed yesterday on the project.
RTÉ will continue to broadcast while the new buildings will be constructed at the Donnybrook village end of the land. It is expected that 670 construction jobs will be provided during the project.
It will be built in five phases, depending on finances available. RTÉ have also not ruled out not being able to complete the huge plan, and have prioritised its new high-definition studios, which will cost €140m.
"We are confident that the most cost-effective, sustainable and technically robust option available is to reconfigure our existing site and incorporate all facilities into a single new building," Mr Goan said.
Under the plans, sections of the new building, which will take up nearly half the Donnybrook site, will rise to 33 metres, double that of the current highest building.
RTÉ senior officials are keen to have state-of-the-art digital and online facilities by 2012, to compete with other broadcasters like the BBC.
During planning, officials were sent abroad to look at other studios in Denmark, Finland, Scotland and Hungary.
The new building will also save electricity with better insulation and construction. At present, Montrose uses the same amount of electricity as Kilkenny city.
Most of the €360m will be borrowed on the basis of revenue from renting future facilities.
Some funds will also come from its cash reserves and upkeep budget.
RTÉ have not ruled out any joint venture on parts of the site and expect it will be 2016 at the earliest before sections are completed.
Changes will include doubling the audience capacity for the Late Late Show from 400 to 800.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 25 September 2009
Enter the Dragon in 'Monopoly' row over D4 house
A ROW between two of the country's leading businessmen over plans to build a house on Dublin's most exclusive road took a bizarre twist yesterday.
Chairman of fruit importers Fyffes, David McCann, is embroiled in a long-running argument with Black Tie founder Niall O'Farrell over his plans to demolish a house on Shrewsbury Road and replace it with a new three-storey property more than twice its size.
And yesterday Mr McCann claimed that Shrewsbury Road's pre-eminent position on the 'Monopoly' board should result in planning permission being refused.
In an unusual submission to An Bord Pleanala, he also accused Mr O'Farrell, star of the RTE TV show 'Dragons' Den', of engaging in 'braggadocio' -- arrogant or boastful behaviour -- by seeking permission to build a new home.
Planning
Mr O'Farrell was granted planning permission by Dublin City Council last month to demolish the house on Shrewsbury Road and replace it with a new home more than twice the size.
He already owns another house on Shrewsbury Road, the seven-bedroom 'Thorndene' which is currently listed with an asking price of €14m.
Mr O'Farrell's property is a four-storey house with 863sq metres (9,290sq ft) of living space including a 50ft basement swimming pool and a cinema.
The house is described by property website myhome.ie as a "bespoke luxury residence of considerable style" set on just under half an acre of land.
Features include a grand staircase, modelled on that of Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in Dublin, made of white Alabama oak. The property combines historic Victorian features with the latest smart wiring technology. There is full planning permission for a sun patio area.
Mr O'Farrell previously spoke of his plans to move out of Thorndale but to stay on the "quietly sociable" Shrewsbury Road, where developer Sean Dunne also owns property.
He described 28 Shrewsbury Road as having been "butchered" over the years and spoke enthusiastically about his plans for renovation.
But now Mr McCann, a neighbour, has appealed the decision to the planning appeals board, claiming there is "no place" on the country's most expensive road for the Black Tie founder's dream home.
"Visitors to Shrewsbury Road are immediately struck by the mature, airy opulence of the streetscape. This is a notable feature. It affords the green context that adorns and complements the houses," Mr McCann's submission to An Bord Pleanala says.
'Exalted'
"Shrewsbury Road had acquired this exalted status by the mid-20th Century. When the makers of the ever-popular property board game, Monopoly, came to produce an Irish edition, pride of place fell to Shrewsbury Road. That was in 1972. In achieving this accolade, the street matched the exclusivity set by its English counterpart at Mayfair."
It went on: "Shrewsbury Road is distinguished by an emphasis on secluded maturity. It is not a place for ostentatious braggadocio."
Mr O'Farrell bought the property for €7.5m and his neighbour claims the redevelopment would have a negative impact on the streetscape and his home with "excessive" overshadowing. He adds his home would suffer an "excessive and unreasonable loss of property value".
Mr O'Farrell said he was "disappointed" that his plans were being appealed.
"It has the support of neighbours on the road.
"The house is sympathetic to the road and the house is further away from both neighbours, and it's narrower too. The house now was built in the 1960s and has a flat roof, and is completely inappropriate. I hope the planners agree with me."
Permission to build two three-storey houses on the site was refused in August 2008. An Bord Pleanala is expected to issue a decision by next January.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Chairman of fruit importers Fyffes, David McCann, is embroiled in a long-running argument with Black Tie founder Niall O'Farrell over his plans to demolish a house on Shrewsbury Road and replace it with a new three-storey property more than twice its size.
And yesterday Mr McCann claimed that Shrewsbury Road's pre-eminent position on the 'Monopoly' board should result in planning permission being refused.
In an unusual submission to An Bord Pleanala, he also accused Mr O'Farrell, star of the RTE TV show 'Dragons' Den', of engaging in 'braggadocio' -- arrogant or boastful behaviour -- by seeking permission to build a new home.
Planning
Mr O'Farrell was granted planning permission by Dublin City Council last month to demolish the house on Shrewsbury Road and replace it with a new home more than twice the size.
He already owns another house on Shrewsbury Road, the seven-bedroom 'Thorndene' which is currently listed with an asking price of €14m.
Mr O'Farrell's property is a four-storey house with 863sq metres (9,290sq ft) of living space including a 50ft basement swimming pool and a cinema.
The house is described by property website myhome.ie as a "bespoke luxury residence of considerable style" set on just under half an acre of land.
Features include a grand staircase, modelled on that of Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in Dublin, made of white Alabama oak. The property combines historic Victorian features with the latest smart wiring technology. There is full planning permission for a sun patio area.
Mr O'Farrell previously spoke of his plans to move out of Thorndale but to stay on the "quietly sociable" Shrewsbury Road, where developer Sean Dunne also owns property.
He described 28 Shrewsbury Road as having been "butchered" over the years and spoke enthusiastically about his plans for renovation.
But now Mr McCann, a neighbour, has appealed the decision to the planning appeals board, claiming there is "no place" on the country's most expensive road for the Black Tie founder's dream home.
"Visitors to Shrewsbury Road are immediately struck by the mature, airy opulence of the streetscape. This is a notable feature. It affords the green context that adorns and complements the houses," Mr McCann's submission to An Bord Pleanala says.
'Exalted'
"Shrewsbury Road had acquired this exalted status by the mid-20th Century. When the makers of the ever-popular property board game, Monopoly, came to produce an Irish edition, pride of place fell to Shrewsbury Road. That was in 1972. In achieving this accolade, the street matched the exclusivity set by its English counterpart at Mayfair."
It went on: "Shrewsbury Road is distinguished by an emphasis on secluded maturity. It is not a place for ostentatious braggadocio."
Mr O'Farrell bought the property for €7.5m and his neighbour claims the redevelopment would have a negative impact on the streetscape and his home with "excessive" overshadowing. He adds his home would suffer an "excessive and unreasonable loss of property value".
Mr O'Farrell said he was "disappointed" that his plans were being appealed.
"It has the support of neighbours on the road.
"The house is sympathetic to the road and the house is further away from both neighbours, and it's narrower too. The house now was built in the 1960s and has a flat roof, and is completely inappropriate. I hope the planners agree with me."
Permission to build two three-storey houses on the site was refused in August 2008. An Bord Pleanala is expected to issue a decision by next January.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 21 September 2009
Firm must pay €3.525m in development contributions
Eastground Investments Ltd, the company which recently secured planning permission to build a 325-bedroom hotel by the M1/M50 interchange near Dublin Airport, will have to pay a development contribution levy of €3.525 million to Fingal County Council.
The company lost an appeal to An Bord Pleanála in which it argued that it should not have to pay the charge in respect of the basement car-park. The board found otherwise. The underground car-park is designed to accommodate 469 cars.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The company lost an appeal to An Bord Pleanála in which it argued that it should not have to pay the charge in respect of the basement car-park. The board found otherwise. The underground car-park is designed to accommodate 469 cars.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Arnotts €1bn shops scheme under threat
Concerns about revised proposals for Arnotts' €1bn Northern Quarter retail scheme have been raised by Dublin city planners.
Arnotts got the go-ahead last year for the massive redevelopment, which will be located in an area bounded by Henry Street, O'Connell Street, Abbey Street and Liffey Street.
However, An Bord Pleanála ruled that the project could only proceed if a planned 16-storey tower in the original design was omitted. In total, the board tagged on 26 separate conditions to its grant of permission, including the preservation of several protected buildings in the area.
Arnotts Properties Ltd then submitted its revised plans and the city council has now expressed reservations about the new blueprint.
Among the major changes being applied for is a redesign of the so-called Block A - from a seven-storey building over three basement levels, to an eight-storey building over three basement levels. This would increase the over-ground height of the tower from 18m to 31.5m.
Arnotts is proposing to increase the overall ground floor area of the scheme from 125,864sq m to 128,726sq m.
In a request for additional information, city planners have asked the applicant to submit a further architectural justification and revised drawings for the 'proposed retention of the Chapters Bookstore facade in Block A1 facing onto Abbey Street.
'The applicant is advised to note that the planning authority has concerns regarding how the retention of this facade sits within the context of proposed scale and welcomed simplicity of the grid framed retail store', they said.
In addition, Arnotts has been requested to redesign the facade fronting onto Henry Street, having regard to 'the building's location in a sensitive streetscape and the building's role in framing/defining the entrance onto Princes Street North'.
Commenting on the revised plans, Kevin Duff of An Taisce pointed out the proposed modifications include the location of a primary building fronting onto Middle Abbey Street, at the corner of Upper Liffey Street.
"These modifications entail a significant change to the height and design of the proposed development in this area," said Mr Duff - who added the revisions "depart excessively" from the plans approved by An Bord Pleanála.
He added - "(The) proposed overall height of this part of the development now closely matches its height as approved .... by Dublin City Council and as subsequently significantly reduced by An Bord Pleanála."
Arnotts must respond to the council's request for further information within six months.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Arnotts got the go-ahead last year for the massive redevelopment, which will be located in an area bounded by Henry Street, O'Connell Street, Abbey Street and Liffey Street.
However, An Bord Pleanála ruled that the project could only proceed if a planned 16-storey tower in the original design was omitted. In total, the board tagged on 26 separate conditions to its grant of permission, including the preservation of several protected buildings in the area.
Arnotts Properties Ltd then submitted its revised plans and the city council has now expressed reservations about the new blueprint.
Among the major changes being applied for is a redesign of the so-called Block A - from a seven-storey building over three basement levels, to an eight-storey building over three basement levels. This would increase the over-ground height of the tower from 18m to 31.5m.
Arnotts is proposing to increase the overall ground floor area of the scheme from 125,864sq m to 128,726sq m.
In a request for additional information, city planners have asked the applicant to submit a further architectural justification and revised drawings for the 'proposed retention of the Chapters Bookstore facade in Block A1 facing onto Abbey Street.
'The applicant is advised to note that the planning authority has concerns regarding how the retention of this facade sits within the context of proposed scale and welcomed simplicity of the grid framed retail store', they said.
In addition, Arnotts has been requested to redesign the facade fronting onto Henry Street, having regard to 'the building's location in a sensitive streetscape and the building's role in framing/defining the entrance onto Princes Street North'.
Commenting on the revised plans, Kevin Duff of An Taisce pointed out the proposed modifications include the location of a primary building fronting onto Middle Abbey Street, at the corner of Upper Liffey Street.
"These modifications entail a significant change to the height and design of the proposed development in this area," said Mr Duff - who added the revisions "depart excessively" from the plans approved by An Bord Pleanála.
He added - "(The) proposed overall height of this part of the development now closely matches its height as approved .... by Dublin City Council and as subsequently significantly reduced by An Bord Pleanála."
Arnotts must respond to the council's request for further information within six months.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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