Empire facing uncertain future as high-rise plan comes tumbling down
The businessman is likely to face financial difficulties as the decision effectively puts an end to his ambitious €1.5 billion project for the area.
However, Mr Dunne’s company, Mountbrook Homes, last night indicated that it would submit a revised plan which would comply with the existing zoning for the site that states any development should be “primarily residential”.
The colourful entrepreneur paid €379m for the site in 2005 (which represented a record price at the time of €54m per acre) as he vowed to turn the upmarket southside suburb into “Dublin’s Knightsbridge”. He also spent a further €15m on professional fees in designing the project.
The Carlow-born developer had sought planning permission for a development that combined residential, commercial, office and recreational uses including a landmark 37-storey tower called One Berkeley Court and seven other high-rise buildings.
The project included provision for 536 apartments, a 232-bedroom hotel, 27,000 square metres of retail space including a department store, food hall, cafes, bars and restaurants.
However, ABP yesterday refused permission for Mr Dunne’s plans on five grounds, which mostly related to the scale, height and density of the development which the board said would constitute “gross over-development and over-intensification” of the site.
The planning appeals authority claimed the developer’s project was excessive and would be “highly obtrusive”.
“The proposed development would materially contravene the land use rezoning objective of the development plan and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” it stated. The board also expressed doubt that Mr Dunne’s proposals would bring about “a high-quality environment for future occupants”.
In a separate report, ABP planning inspector, Tom Rabbette, claimed the scheme was “not without merit” and he praised One Berkeley Court as a building “of quality design”. But Mr Rabbette also recommended refusal of the project on the basis that the proposed scale of office and commercial use represented a material contravention of the area’s zoning under the Dublin City Development Plan.
In a statement issued by Mountbrook Homes last night Mr Dunne said the project would have created “a much-needed boost to Ireland in these current harsh economic times” by providing 970 construction jobs for the next seven years combined with 5,400 permanent jobs.
Mr Dunne said the three D4 hotels on the site would remain open for business for the foreseeable future.
The developer criticised planning legislation which he claimed was “lengthy, expensive, confusing and unworkable”. “As the system stands applying for planning permission has become a game of roulette,” he remarked.
Mr Dunne also said contradictory decisions by the planning authorities in recent years were detrimental to the country’s economic progress, job creation and development. However, Mr Dunne welcomed proposals by Environment Minister John Gormley to reform planning legislation.
Local residents group who opposed the project welcomed the ABP decision last night.
A statement issued by 18 parties who objected to the development called on Dublin City Council to be investigated over its decision to part-grant planning permission to Mr Dunne given An Bord Pleanála ruled that the proposal was contrary to the city’s development plan.
A total of 36 parties including financier Dermot Desmond and An Taisce appealed the local authority’s decision, while an unprecedented 90 parties supported the project. They included RTÉ presenter Bill O’Herlihy and Gate Theatre director Michael Colgan as well as construction firms Ascon and Rohcon.
Damien Cassidy of the Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount Environmental Group called on Mr Dunne to meet with residents to discuss a development for the site which would be acceptable to people living in the Ballsbridge area.
Mr Cassidy said the board demonstrated they were an independent body given the significance of the proposed development.
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