Tall & Urban News

Developer Johnny Ronan has won approval to build what may become central Dublin’s tallest building.

The long-running saga to build the 22-story tower on Tara Street involved four separate attempts by the developer to secure permission. This month, An Bord Pleanala (The Planning Board) approved the plans for the 88-meter structure.

Construction of the tower is to begin in April 2019 and the group is already in discussions with potential tenants. The building will comprise 16,557 square meters of office, accommodating 890 workers, a four-story, 106-bedroom hotel, and a top-floor restaurant.

Ronan Group’s senior development manager, James Ronan, said he was “thrilled” the development had finally been given the green light. “This is an extremely positive and progressive move for Dublin and Ireland Inc.” he said.

“If we are to continue to compete with our European counterparts for much sought-after foreign direct investment we need to set our ambitions high, delivering the world-class accommodation required to facilitate our collective growth ambitions.”

Ronan said the development will be a “catalyst for the regeneration of this city quarter and will set a new benchmark for regeneration projects in the city.”

Paul O’Brien, Chairman of Henry J Lyons Architects, said the project will have a “transformative regenerating effect on the Tara Street streetscape.”

Despite repeated objections to his plans, Johnny Ronan had secured the support of the Dublin Chamber, the Irish Hotels Federation, IDA Ireland and the Convention Centre Dublin.

The planning documents state that the tower will take 30 months to construct, with between 313 and 375 workers employed.

Based on a previous planning application, Dublin City Council said the building would “seriously detract” from the character of Custom House, which it called “one of the city’s most important architectural set-pieces.”

For more on this story visit, The Independent.