Different approaches have emerged between the local authority and the planning board on the future of Dublin’s skyline.

An Bord Pleanála has turned down Dublin City Council’s plan for the Docklands because it does not have enough height and density.

Dublin City Council wants to cap the height of Docklands developments at 25 storeys, but An Bord Pleanála says that it will consider plans for up to 40 storeys in height.

The local authority is considering whether to submit another revised development plan for Dublin’s Docklands, or to seek a Judicial Review in the High Court, as its eight-storey height limit has been exceeded by An Bord Pleanála.

Consultation

The eight-storey limit followed a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) process that includes public consultation.

There are three SDZs located within the Dublin City Council area: Grangegorman, North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock, and Poolbeg West.

SDZ zones are considered to be of strategic national economic and social importance.

The North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock SDZ plan covers the site of Johnny Ronan's proposed 45- and 41-storey towers, and would have limited those to 25 floors. 

An Bord Pleanála referred in its decision to the call in national planning guidelines for greater density within urban areas.

The planning authority has given permission to developer Johnny Ronan to go above the designated eight floors in his planned development in the Docklands.

Planner Tom Phillips, who has worked for the Ronan Group, said the board was correct to reject the local authority’s revised SDZ as unambitious because it only increased commercial floor space by 8% and residential floorspace by 6%.

The local authority had submitted revised plans to the board following new ministerial guidelines, and other national policies aimed at increasing height and densities in urban areas.

Jurisdiction

The council said that the board “does not have the jurisdiction to grant permission” for the Waterfront South Central scheme on North Wall Quay, because it contravenes the city’s development plan, and the planning scheme for the docklands.

Last October, Spencer Place Development Company (owned by Johnny Ronan) lost a long-running court battle with the council to secure permission for a 13-storey building further west on the north quays, known as the Salesforce tower, because it exceeded the area’s maximum height rules.