Dublin's docklands communities will this month begin their appeal to An Bord Pleanala against Dublin Corporation's decision to grant planning permission for a major development on Spencer Dock.
Eight appeals, including two from community groups, have been lodged against the granting of planning permission for aspects of the development on the north quays, which includes a proposed £105 million national conference centre.
An Bord Pleanala's oral hearing will open on Thursday for preliminary matters, with the full hearing scheduled to begin on February 21st. Last August, the corporation granted full planning permission to the conference centre and one office block, but gave only outline planning permission for the redevelopment of the rest of the site subject to new plans.
The appellants include the East Wall Residents' Association, Docklands Communities Against High Rise, An Taisce, the Irish Georgian Society, the financier Mr Dermot Desmond and two city councillors, Mr Ciaran Cuffe (Greens) and Mr Gerard Breen (FG). The community groups are objecting only to the office block and the outline permission for the rest of the site.
The Spencer Dock Development Company behind the £1 billion scheme will also appeal against the conditions laid down by the corporation's planners. The company is a consortium consisting of Treasury Holdings, the docklands businessman, Mr Harry Crosbie, and CIE, which owns the 51-acre site.
The area's Independent TD, Mr Tony Gregory, said he strongly supported "communities who are in favour of sustainable development, but who are opposed to the creation of an inappropriate Manhattan-style monstrosity".
Meanwhile, efforts to revoke planning permission for a high-rise office scheme at a controversial site on George's Quay were unsuccessful last night.
At the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council, Mr Cuffe failed in an attempt to bring forward his motion to have the scheme's planning permission - granted by the corporation in 1991 - rescinded.
Mr Cuffe's motion claimed there had been "a material change in circumstances relating to the proper planning and development of the area" in the nine years since planning permission was granted. The move was backed by the South East Network, which represents local residents. Residents and environmentalists are opposed to the scheme by Cosgrave Property Group on a site opposite the Custom House, at Moss Street and Townsend Street.
The developers were granted planning permission for the development in 1991, but only two of the 10 office blocks were built. Building work started recently on the scheme, which will include several blocks in a staggered cluster behind the existing buildings.
The developers have reverted to the 1991 scheme after permission for a substitute high-rise development was refused by the board last September.