The redevelopment of the old Department of Justice headquarters in Dublin is on hold after the local authority imposed 21 conditions on the plans for the building.

Dublin City Council granted its new owner, Shelbourne Developments, permission to give the building a major facelift this week.

However, the authority imposed 21 restrictions that would remove 20,000 square feet from the remodelled structure.

Shelbourne Developments, which paid €52 million for the St Stephen's Green property in July, is considering its options following the decision.

It is understood that the company may appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála, or scale back its original proposals. It is not likely to make a decision before the New Year.

The building is located at the southern side of St Stephen's Green, in the centre of Dublin's business district.

It was built in the 1970s and one objection to the plans describes it as an eyesore.

Shelbourne planned to rebuild it, adding an extra floor.

However, the local authority says the company cannot add the extra floor and wants it to cut back on other elements of the plan.

The restrictions reduce the development from its original capacity of 120,000 square feet to 98,000 square feet.

The extra space created by the new floor would have helped offset rebuilding costs. Consequently the company could limit itself to refurbishing the inside of the building.

An Taisce, the Irish national trust, and the Irish Georgian Society, both objected to Shelbourne's plans for the building. Both organisations highlighted the fact that they would increase the height and scale of the structure.