Green light for River Liffey office block
Last September, Dublin City Council gave Targeted Investment Opportunities the go-ahead for the 15,479 sq m office block at No 13 to 18 City Quay that also contains plans for two retail or restaurant units and a café.
However, An Taisce appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála claiming that the five- to nine-storey block was contrary to the provisions of the George’s Quay Local Area Plan.
In its appeal, An Taisce stated that the proposed building is a dense block covering most of the site and consisting of five- and six-storey sections to the front and larger eight- and nine-storey sections to the rear.
The appeal lodged by An Taisce said that while the Dublin Docklands area can accommodate higher development densities, the proposal would dwarf the protected structures of nearby St Mary’s Church.
An Taisce said the development would result in a severe adverse effect on the immediate setting of St Mary’s.
On creating a precedent, An Taisce stated that there were few, if any, precedents or examples in the city of developments directly overbearing on historic churches in the manner proposed.
However, in its decision, the appeals board has found that the proposal would not detract from the visual amenities of the area or established character and pattern of development in the area in its order.
It stated that the proposed development would be in accordance with the development objectives for the area and would integrate satisfactorily with the surrounding existing development, including St Mary’s Church and Presbytery and the protected views and prospects from the north side of the River Liffey.
The development is one of a number of developments that Targeted Investment Oportunities is involved in in the Dublin Docklands area.
Last year, the city council gave Targeted the green light for €450m development comprising 18,000 sq m of office space and 100 apartments at 5 Hanover Quay in Dublin 2, and 9,300 sq m of office space and 58 apartments at 76 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay.
Targeted Investment is a fund of which the Los Angelus-based Oaktree Capital Management is the investment manager. Bennett Property Limited is the property manager.
