A 24-floor skyscraper located around the corner from Trinity College and which would have been Ireland's tallest building has been refused permission by Dublin City Council.
Developers Ventaway Limited plan to use the site of the former City Arts centre building on City Quay and Moss Street to construct the office building which will include an arts centre and gym in its basement. But plans were derailed yesterday following the decision from the planning department of the council.
The monstrous proposal was stopped by the council over concerns that it would "seriously detract from the setting and character of the Custom House and environs". City planners deemed that the "overwhelming scale, mass and height" of the plans would "undoubtedly cast a significant shadow and have an overbearing impact on the surrounding environment".
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The Office of Public Works, which manages the Custom House, said the building has the potential to "adversely affect the historic setting and architectural quarter" of the landmark building on the Quays.
The local City Quay School said that ongoing construction in the area has made teaching difficult due to noise levels and the need to keep windows open due to Covid-19 protocols. It also has a negative effect on children who are a part of its new Autism class and have sensory issues.
The St Laurence O'Toole Diocesan Trust of the Archdiocese of Dublin raised major concerns with the development's construction which would "present a severe risk" to the protected structures nearby which include the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on City Quay. Grant Thornton which occupies a building nearby raised concerns about the overshadowing that would be caused by the development.
An Taisce raised several issues with the proposal and said that it does not comply with the Local Area Plan for George's Quay or the Dublin City Development Plan. It also shared environmental concerns surrounding the use of glass on the building and the energy-use it would need. It also questioned whether Dublin Fire Brigade's equipment would be able to handle a major incident such as a fire within the building.
Although many raised concerns about the proposal, support was given by Ibec which said the building would "contribute to regeneration" and "further complete the urban transformation" of Dublin Docklands. McGreevy Property Consultants also supported the plans, saying the proposed development is "very futuristic".
Knight Frank said that the proposal is a "perfect example" of a building that meets the ambitions of corporations looking to use Dublin as a base. While BNP Paribas Real Estate said it will "compliment nearby office developments" along the Docklands. Cushman Wakefield also hailed its closeness to Tara Street.
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