Around the Block:Don't be surprised if Dublin City Council decides to grant full planning permission for Norman Foster's controversial plan to re-make the Clarence Hotel - by demolishing all but its quayfront facade and those of its immediate neighbours, Dollard House and four late Georgian buildings by the Wide Streets Commissioners.

It has long been known that chief planning officer Dick Gleeson is very enthusiastic about the scheme, because he sees it as crucial in turning Temple Bar around to face the River Liffey as well as injecting some life into otherwise dull East Essex Street by opening up new cafés and shops on the south-facing side of the street.

Although Foster + Partners was put through the hoops of providing a raft of additional information on the €150 million project - such as why the hotel and adjoining buildings can't simply be refurbished as they stand - the imminent approval will come as a relief to Bono, The Edge and Paddy McKillen, who form the Clarence Hotel Partnership. However, there are bound to be appeals to An Bord Pleanála by An Taisce and its former chairman Michael Smith, who was withering about the scheme in his objection - describing its "Skycatcher" atrium and elliptical flying saucer-style roof profile as "a Fosteresque 21st century rockstar bubble".