The Irish Independent

A €100m facelift of the RDS involving construction of huge office blocks and demolition of landmark buildings got the green light yesterday. An Bord Pleanala approved the controversial plan to build four giant office blocks on the Ballsbridge site at Anglesea and Simmonscourt roads to be leased to the private sector. The go-ahead comes despite objections from an order of nuns and residents who were backed by Justice Minister Michael McDowell. However, the board did axe another planned office block to protect the activities in the RDS arena. But while the main RDS building in Dublin is a protected structure, the planning board gave permission for the controversial demolition of a large number of buildings, including the Paddock Hall, two gate lodges, Shrewsbury Hall, part of the granite boundary wall and a terrace at the eastern end of Anglesea Stand.