Offices at Digital Hub appealed

THE DELIVERY of much-needed office space for the Digital Hub in Dublin's Liberties will face further delays as two office developments are being appealed to An Bord Pleanála.

Manor Park Homebuilders was granted planning permission last month by Dublin City Council for nearly 8,000sq m (86,111sq ft) of digital media office space on its 2.5-acre Digital Hub site on Thomas Street, Dublin 8.

The tallest building is eight storeys and there will also be seven retail units, a bar and three duplex apartments.

Part of the development involves a change of use of 1 Crane Street, and 7 and 8 Thomas Street (all protected structures), from financial services to retail use at ground floor level and residential use at first and second floor level.

The proposal for the four-storey Vat House Number 7 is to add another three storeys to the building to turn it into an office block with eight shops and a bar, and for the refurbishment of the overhead walkway link to the Hopstore on Rainsfort Street.

However, an appeal to the planning board by Maireád Scannell with an address in Rathmines, Dublin 6, says that the fabric of 1 Crane Street, 7 Thomas Street and 8 Thomas Street should be maintained "given that they are protected structures". She also says the proposal fails to protect the historic fabric of the Vat House Number 7.

Last October the developer was refused permission by An Bord Pleanála for an office and residential development dubbed "Mini-Manhattan" because it proposed Ireland's tallest building, of 53 storeys.

Meanwhile, An Taisce has appealed a proposal by Cavan-based developer P Elliot Co for the adjoining 3.2-acre Windmill site for 8,713sq m (93,786sq ft) of development, mostly comprising digital media space, in two blocks on around a quarter of the site.

An Taisce says it is "well aware" of the "urgent need for office space in the immediate area in order to sustain the Digital Hub initiative and keep its companies geographically close".

It says concerns were expressed to the local authority about the impact of the development on the Windmill protected structure "but Dublin City Council did not set down any conditions or modify the proposal in any way".

It says the proposed eight-storey block fails to protect the setting and prominence of the Windmill "a special and iconic" building in Dublin.

The most recent planning applications by both developers are an attempt to expedite planning permission for office space - which is key to the success of the Digital Hub where the Digital Hub Environmental Agency wants to keep companies together; but there is currently little space available for companies looking to expand.

Both developers had a deadline of June to get planning permission with an extension to February 2009 if referred to An Bord Pleanála.

Both sites sold for €118 million but the State accepted part payment in the form of office buildings and this reduced the cash payment concerned to around €72 million.