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Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Fresh bid for Dublin's tallest building on City Arts Centre site after High Court quashes An Bord Pleanála ruling
The company behind a plan to redevelop the site of the former City Arts Centre at City Quay is to renew its bid to build Dublin's tallest building there. Having secured planning permission from Dublin City Council just two weeks ago for a 14-storey office block, Ventaway, a company headed up by David Kennan and Winthrop engineering group founder Barry English, is aiming once again to deliver a 24-storey structure on the site. The proposal is being revived on foot of a judgment delivered by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys earlier this week in which he quashed the decision made by An Bord Pleanála in May 2024 to refuse planning permission for the scheme. In arriving at his decision, the judge found that the board was in breach of Section 172 of the 2000 Planning and Development Act by refusing permission for the scheme 'in the absence of a properly conducted environmental impact assessment (EIA) by the board with a reasoned conclusion'. READ MORE The judge also found that there was a 'complete absence of engagement' by the board in relation to the ten-page analysis of its own inspector, which highlighted the fact that the urban development and building heights guidelines for planning authorities issued by former minister for housing Eoghan Murphy in December 2018 supported the granting of permission for a taller building. According to these, local authorities may assess permissible building heights on a qualitative basis, rather than by the limitations imposed by development plans or local area plans. The former City Arts Centre as it is today Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill The Irish Times understands that following this week's court ruling, Ventaway will pursue its entitlement to submit its proposal for the 24-storey tower to the planning appeals board, which is now known An Coimisiún Pleanála, for its consideration. Should it get the go-ahead, the 24-storey tower would rise to a height of 108m (354.33ft) and comprise 22,587 sq m of office space over 23 of its floors, along with 1,404 sq m of artist studios and exhibition space distributed across the front of the building at its lower-ground, ground and first-floor levels. A computer generated aerial image of the scheme proposed for the former City Arts Centre site While the 14-storey building, for which Ventaway currently has permission, would, in contrast, be 61.05m (200ft) in height, the building would be wider, providing additional office space – 23,501 sq m compared to the 22,587 sq m in the taller scheme. The lower-rise scheme would provide less arts and cultural space, with 910 sq m being dedicated to artist studios and exhibition areas compared to the 1,404 sq m provided for in the proposed 24-storey structure.
Irish Independent
04-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Dublin City Council grants permission for 14-storey office block despite opposition from OPW, local school and religious trust
The council has granted planning to the firm, headed up by developer David Kennan and Winthrop engineering group founder Barry English, despite opposition from the Office of Public Works (OPW), an inner-city primary school, a religious trust and An Taisce. In granting planning permission to Ventaway Ltd, a council planner's report concluded that the scheme 'will result in the redevelopment of a massively under-utilised vacant site in a prominent location within the city centre'. The report found that the proposed alterations 'ensure that the development will not only create valuable commercial space but will also add much-needed artistic spaces, while also providing managed space for the adjoining school'. Underlining the scale of the scheme, the council has ordered Ventaway to pay €3.18m in planning contributions towards public infrastructure and €1.08m towards the Luas C1 line scheme. The current plans follow An Coimisiún Pleanála refusing planning permission in May 2024 to Ventaway to develop what would have been Dublin's tallest building at 24 storeys for the same site. School's board of management was objecting 'in the strongest possible terms' Ventaway lodged its revised plans last December and the scheme – designed by architects Henry J Lyons – is 61.05m tall, which is a 46.95m height reduction on the 108m-high scheme refused in 2024. Principal of City Quay National School, Philip Kelly, told the council that the school's board of management was objecting 'in the strongest possible terms' to the new planning application. The OPW is the state agency charged with the care and management of the James Gandon-designed Custom House and in its objection, the OPW stated that the construction of a building at this scale and magnitude 'has the potential to adversely impact the historic and architectural character of the Custom House'. In a separate objection on behalf of St Laurence O'Toole Trust and the Administrator of the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, planning consultant Declan Brassil stated that the scheme 'represents a significant overdevelopment of the site'. The country's largest industry lobby group, Ibec, also weighed in stating that approval should be granted. Ibec's head of infrastructure and environmental sustainability, Aidan Sweeney, told the council that the proposal 'offers an effective revitalisation of a prime location in the city centre and is exactly the sort of project Dublin requires going forward'.
Irish Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Permission given for new office block on Dublin City Arts Centre site
Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to Ventaway for a 14 storey office block scheme for a site on the former City Arts Centre at City Quay in Dublin 2. The council has granted planning permission to the firm, headed up by developer, David Kennan and Winthrop engineering group founder, Barry English, despite opposition from the Office of Public Works (OPW), an inner city primary school, a religious trust and An Taisce. In granting planning permission to Ventaway Ltd, a Council planner's report concluded that the scheme 'will result in the redevelopment of a massively underutilised vacant site in a prominent location within the city centre'. The report found that the proposed alterations 'ensure that the development will not only create valuable commercial space but will also add much needed artistic spaces, while also providing managed space for the adjoining school'. READ MORE Underlining the scale of the scheme, the council has ordered Ventaway to pay €3.18 million in planning contributions towards public infrastructure and €1.08 million towards Luas works. The current plans follow An Bord Pleanala refusing planning permission in May 2024 to Ventaway to develop what would have been Dublin's tallest building at 24 storeys for the same site. Ventaway lodged its revised plans last December and the scheme - designed by architects, Henry J Lyons - is 61.05m tall, which is a 46.95m lower than the high scheme refused in 2024. Principal of City Quay National School, Philip Kelly, told the council that the school's board of management were objecting 'in the strongest possible terms' to the new planning application. The OPW is the State agency charged with the care and management of the James Gandon designed Custom House and in its objection, the OPW stated that the construction of a building at this scale and magnitude 'has the potential to adversely impact the historic and architectural character of the Custom House'. In a separate objection on behalf of St Laurence O'Toole Trust and The Administrator of the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, planning consultant, Declan Brassil stated that the scheme 'represents a significant overdevelopment of the site'. The country's largest industry lobby group, IBEC also weighed in, stating that approval should be granted. IBEC's Head of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability, Aidan Sweeney told the Council that the proposal 'offers an effective revitalisation of a prime location in the city centre and is exactly the sort of project Dublin requires going forward'.
Irish Independent
23-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
No new offer made for Dalata, board says
Earlier this month the board of Dalata rejected the offer of €6.05 per share by Pandox and Eiendomsspar, equivalent to a valuation of €1.3bn, saying it materially undervalued the group. The offer represented a premium of just over 27pc on the €4.76 closing price of March 5, the last trading day before Dalata announced it was launching a strategic review, with one option being a sale. The consortium announced on Friday that it had bought almost 1.7 million shares in Dalata, at €6.30. The stock was at €6.38 in early trading on Euronext Dublin today. The company, which owns 55 hotel properties in Britain and Ireland, is also listed in London. In a statement to investors, Dalata said it noted the announcement by the consortium of its purchase of another 0.8pc of the issued share capital. However it pointed out that the Pandox-led consortium had not made an offer for the company at that level. 'Since the Pandox possible offer of €6.05 per share approximately three weeks ago, the consortium has not submitted any further proposal to the board,' the statement said. 'Shareholders are advised to take no action in relation to the Pandox consortium announcement. The board continues to engage with parties who are participating in the Formal Sales Process and who have submitted revised non-binding cash proposals to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of the group. 'A further announcement will be made as appropriate.' In accordance with Irish Takeover Rules, the Scandinavian consortium has until July 15 to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Dalata, whose chief executive is Dermot Crowley, or to withdraw from the process. Eiendomsspar, one of the largest property owners in Norway, with its portfolio including 11 hotels, already had an 8.8pc stake in Dalata at the time of its bid. It controls 36pc of the shares in Pandox, a Swedish firm that owns 163 hotels across 11 countries in Europe, with about 36,000 rooms. Based in Stockholm, Pandox develops and then leases hotels to operators under long-term deals. Its hotels in Ireland operate under the Leonardo brand. The consortium's bid was unexpected, as it had not engaged in the formal sales process launched in May, which is being managed by the investment bank Rothschild. A number of American investment firms have submitted bids for Dalata, according to reports by Green Street, a property news website. They are said to include Bain, Apollo and Starwood, which already owns 2.7pc of Dalata through an affiliate. Several international financial institutions have increased their shareholdings in Dalata since the sales process started. They include the British bank Barclays, the French banks BNP Paribas and Societe Generale, and the international asset manager BlackRock. The businessman Barry English has also emerged as a shareholder. He already owns the five-star Mount Juliet estate in Kilkenny, Trim Castle Hotel, and the Johnstown Estate Hotel in Enfield.
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Data centre king takes Dalata stake ahead of sale
Data centre millionaire Barry English has taken a stake in hotelier Dalata, as investors circle Ireland's biggest hospitality business. Joe Brennan reports. Despite the threat from US tariffs, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) believes corporate tax receipts will increase in the short term, shoring up the Government's budgetary position. Eoin Burke-Kennedy has the story. Decentralised finance company Avara has opened its new European headquarters in Dublin as it seeks to build up its presence in the EU. 'Dublin can be a leader in the space,' said Stani Kulechov, the founder of Avara, noting that the Irish capital 'is a great place to have a European headquarters'. He spoke to Hugh Dooley. A new think tank aimed at influencing energy policy is to be launched in Dublin on Tuesday. The group, called Trifecta Ireland, is founded by renewable energy practitioner and investor Lesley O'Connor. Colin Gleeson reports. READ MORE How does Ireland do banking inquiries? In his column, John McManus outlines the five stages of such a process in Ireland. It's not too different from grief. RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst is expected to tell a Dáil committee on Wednesday that the broadcaster has to date handed over more than €4 million in unpaid social welfare contributions related to the misclassification of some workers in the organisation as self-employed contractors. Ian Curran has the story. Irish bookings to the US are strong into 2026, according to the industry, following a brief collapse in travel across Europe widely attributed to political tensions and concerns over border controls. Mark Hilliard reports. Staying with travel, how can you maximise your time on holidays? In Money Matters, Joanne Hunt shows your options to maximise your annual leave. Mark also reports that Limerick Mayor John Moran has sought the Government's blessing to introduce a hotel tax or levy in line with fundraising abilities of other European cities with directly elected mayors. In Commercial Property, Ronald Quinlan reports that the former AIB branch in Donnybrook in south Dublin has gone on the market for €2.5 million, while jeweller Paul Sheeran is seeking €5.25 million for its longtime base just off Grafton Street. If you'd like to read more about the issues that affect your finances try signing up to On the Money , the weekly newsletter from our personal finance team, which will be issued every Friday to Irish Times subscribers.
