‘Serious concerns’ over Goodman-backed office block
DUBLIN City Council has flagged “very serious concerns” over plans by the Goodman family for a €100m city centre office development and put them on hold.
The planning authority has delayed the ambitious application to redevelop the Setanta Centre on Dublin’s Nassau Street due to issues relating to the proposal’s overall height, scale, bulk and massing.
The Ternary Ltd plan for the Setanta Centre facing on to Trinity College will create at its peak 430 construction jobs and employ 1,600 people when the offices are ready for occupation.
A letter enclosed with the application confirms Setanta Centre Unlimited as owners of the site and lists beef baron Larry Goodman and his eldest son, Lawrence, as directors. Lawrence heads up the family’s property interests as well as running his own property development business.
The Setanta Centre – which was built in the mid-1970s – houses the Kilkenny Design centre store.
However, the Kilkenny group has warned that the new development will result in “serious consequences” and job losses at its flagship store in Dublin where it employs 88.
In putting the plan on hold, the council has taken account of the Kilkenny Shop objections.
The local authority states that “there is a further concern that the current design may impact and weaken the visual presence of the Kilkenny shop; an established and significant part of the retail and tourism experience of this area”.
The council adds: “This is not considered acceptable and should be reviewed.”
The Kilkenny Group has also raised concerns in relation to the impact on its business during the construction phase and the city council has responded to those concerns.
In its request for further information, the city council states that there are “serious concerns regarding the potential consequences of these works on the business”.
The council states that these concerns have not been addressed in the application and that more details are required.
The planning authority has also told Ternary Ltd to reduce the height of the planned office block.