Plan to replace D2 block rejectedBernard McNamara has failed in his bid to secure permission to redevelop McConnell House, a five-storey office building on Charlemont Place, Dublin 2, beside the Hilton Hotel.
The building is occupied by McConnell's Advertising, next to Charlemont Luas stop and overlooking the Grand Canal.
McNamara's Grattanlane Ltd, along with Jerry O'Reilly and Eamon Shields' Albert Properties, was looking to demolish the office block which dates from the 1960s and replace it with an eight-storey office block and 16 apartments to the rear.
The developer had plans for a flagship building comprising two glass towers, designed by architects BKD. Despite praising the architectural merit of the scheme, An Bord Pleanála has refused permission, going against the recommendations of its planning inspector.
The inspector said that the scheme greatly improves the Grand Canal area by replacing a "mediocre building with one of outstanding merit".
In deciding not to accept the inspector's recommendation to grant permission, the board said it accepted that the design of the proposed building is of merit, but said it agreed generally with the criticisms of the third party appellants, neighbours John de Vere White and James and Kathleen Nolan. The appellants argued that the scheme's height and scale would be out of character with the area and would seriously injure the amenities of residential property by overshadowing and obtrusiveness.
227 apartments in D9 approvedHotelier Noel O'Callaghan has been granted permission by Dublin City Council for a large apartment scheme in Dublin 9.
O'Callaghan's Sherbourgh Enterprises has secured permission to built 227 one, two and three-bedroom apartments on a 4.5-acre site on Carberry Road, off Glandore Road, and behind Grace Park Heights. The scheme will range in height from three to six storeys and will also incorporate 348 car-parking spaces.
208 houses for PortmarnockShannon Homes has plans for over 200 houses in Portmarnock, Co Dublin. The builder has just submitted plans for 208 homes on a site at Drumnigh Road in Portmarnock to Fingal County Council. The majority of the houses will be four-bedroom semis with floor areas of around 141sq m (1,518sq ft). Access to the scheme will be via a new roundabout on Drumnigh Road.
