Significant design changes have been made to the controversial plan to create a cluster of high-rise buildings behind George's Quay opposite the Customs House, in Dublin, including a reduction in the height of its tallest tower, in a bid to secure planning permission.

Originally the building was to be 10.2m high, by far the highest building in Dublin. But Dublin Corporation, in its decision to approve the scheme last September, reduced the height to 80 m. Now, the architects Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM) have cut it is down to 73.7 m - some 15 m higher than Liberty Hall. The architects admit that the scaling dwon of the scheme represents a "vast improvement" on the scheme they submitted in May, 1998.

The architects had an opportunity to return to the drawing boards and redesign the £180 million project after An Bord Pleanála exercised its discretionary power to request an environmental impact statement from the developers. The board is dealing with a record 12 appeals against the corporation's decision.