The Irish Times

Hot on the heels of Dublin Corporation's planning decision on Spencer Dock, those who object to high-rise developments in the city will have another opportunity to air their views at an oral hearing this week on the "skyscraper" scheme planned for George's Quay.

An Bord Pleanála is dealing with an unprecedented number of appeals - 10 in all - against Dublin Corporation's decision last October to grant planning permission to the Cosgrave Property Group for the proposed development, subject to its height being reduced to 80 metres.

That decision was made against the advice of the corporation's chief planning officer, Mr Pat McDonnell, who strongly recommended that planning permission be refused for the scheme because of its "detrimental" impact on the low-rise skyline of the city centre. But the city architect, Mr Jim Barrett, argued that the design proposed by international architects Skidmore Owings and Merrill had distinct advantages over an earlier office development planned for the site, because of its livelier mix of office, retail and residential uses.