Tara Street tower appeal to be public
AN Bord Pleanála has set aside two days next week to conduct an oral hearing into developer Johnny Ronan’s appeal against Dublin City Council’s rejection of plans by Ronan Group Real Estate to build Dublin’s tallest building next to Tara Street station.
Mr Ronan’s company, Tanat Ltd, is seeking permission for the construction of a 22-storey (88m) tower comprising offices, a hotel and roof-top restaurant on Tara Street.
Council planners ruled against the application in July on the grounds that the proposed tower would have a “significant and detrimental visual impact” on the city’s skyline.
The decision of An Bord Pleanála to hold a two-day public hearing into the case, beginning next Thursday, October 26, came in response to a request from Mr Ronan’s company, Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE).
In acceding to the developer’s request, An Bord is observing a procedure it follows in cases it deems to be particularly complex or where there are significant national or local issues involved.
Planning appeals are, in the main, decided by its inspectors and decisions issued by way of a written order,
Central to Mr Ronan’s appeal will be his contention that its plans for the site had followed the council’s own planning policies and objectives for the Tara Street scheme.
His team is expected to argue that the George’s Quay Local Area Plan (LAP) prepared by Dublin City Council’s planners and adopted by the council includes a provision for an 88-metre-high building on the Tara Street site.