ESB gets the green light for scheme in Georgian Dublin

A major new office and mixed commercial scheme in Georgian Dublin has been approved by An Bord Pleanála. It related to plans to demolish 20th-century buildings on the development site, a block incorporating parts of Fitzwilliam Street Lower and Mount Street Upper in Dublin 2, and which currently include ESB’s headquarters.

The decision was reached following an inspector’s report that recommended acceptance of the plans after a three-day hearing into the application last June.

ESB Commercial Properties’ plans were the subject of five third-party appeals, as well as the applicant’s own appeal against some of the conditions attached to permission granted last January.

Dublin City Council’s decisions has been upheld by the board, but it included revised conditions from those proposed by the local authority.

Permission has been granted but awaits the outcome of an appeal, in relation to a new office development on one of Dublin’s south city quays.

Planning permission was sought last March by Target Investment Opportunities PLC and Dublin City Council granted permission in August.

The plans as originally submitted for 13 to 18 City Quay were for a building of five to nine storeys with gross floor area of more than 13,500sq m.

An appeal has been received by An Bord Pleanála from An Taisce, meaning the final outcome in relation to the proposal is not due until January.

Around 150 groups and individuals have made submissions regarding the proposed new cruise berth facility for Dun Laoghaire.

The plans formally lodged in July by Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company seek an eight-year permission to construct a new quay, berth and access causeway in the south Co Dublin harbour.

An Bord Pleanála has scheduled an oral hearing to consider the application in detail, with almost three full weeks set aside next month at a Dublin hotel. The case is due to be decided by early next January.

Cork County Council has approved the redevelopment of a west Cork seaside hotel into a community leisure facility and for residential use.

Last March, Zontide Ltd applied for permission to make the changes to the Baltimore Harbour Hotel.The plan is to provide 12 apartments in place of one of three existing buildings, two semi-detached and four terraced houses in two others.

The same local authority has been asked to extend planning permission for 24 new houses near Ovens, west of Ballincollig.

O’Brien & O’Flynn sought approval in 2010 for the scheme at Knockanemore, on a site where planning was previously refused for 54 houses.

In a recent application to Cork County Council, whose website lists the company as being in receivership and liquidation, permission is sought to extend the duration of the existing planning approval.