Much of the shadowing cast by the proposed Spencer Dock scheme would be contained within its own site, an architectural consultant representing the developers told the Bord Pleanala hearing yesterday.
Prof Dermot O'Connell, from UCD's school of architecture, said British standards of exposure to sunlight and daylight were generally met at nine reference points which were the "most sensitive areas" inside the site and near it.
The two exceptions were Mayor Street and New Wapping Street on the edge of the scheme, where the exposure to sunlight and daylight would not measure up to the norms he outlined.
In the case of New Wapping Street's frontage, conditions for sunlight and daylight were below standard, while in Mayor Street sunlight standards were met, but daylight norms were not, he said.
Replying to questions by the presiding inspector, Mr Des Johnson, Prof O'Connell estimated that the height of buildings on the edge of the development would have to be reduced by as much as one third to meet the light standards for Mayor Street.
Prof O'Connell said local authorities should draw up policies to allow planners and designers to know exactly what standards of sunlight and daylight they should meet. He said the longest shadows cast by the development would move away quickly and spaces in the scheme were generous and appropriate to heights of buildings to allow light into courtyards. Gaps running from north to south of the scheme should allow the penetration of sun even on the shortest days to virtually every corner of the scheme, he added.
Earlier, Ms Mary Murphy from Abercorn Road, adjacent to the proposed site, said the development would catastrophically reduce light on that road and adjoining streets. She said residents wanted their sunlight reduced by a minimum or not at all and asked the scheme's architect, Mr Kevin Roche, whether this could be accommodated in any design.
Mr Roche replied: "I would have to examine that very carefully. . . certainly if there's an opportunity where we can resolve these problems we will be taking every opportunity to do so."
An East Wall resident, Ms Catherine O'Shea, said several of her good friends had sold up and moved out of the area due to fear of the proposed development. "If that's not a form of ethnic cleansing, then I don't know what is," she added. She said she had returned from New York where she had lived for five years only to have "part of Manhattan plonked on my doorstep".