Support services group Newcourt has secured planning permission through its Ely Property unit to build the first private day-care hospital in central Dublin, writes Arthur Beesley, Senior Business Correspondent

The granting of planning permission coincides with Ely's move to take full control of the company that owns Aldborough House on Portland Row in the north inner city, in which the new hospital will be based.

Controlled since last year by Newcourt, Ely paid €4.5 million to buy the 75 per cent of Aldborough Developments that it did not already own.

That company, whose directors include Ely chief Philip Marley, acquired the property from the Irish Music Rights Organisation some years ago. The building was also used for many years by the former Telecom Éireann, now Eircom.

Known as the last great mansion built in Dublin in the eighteenth century, the house will be extensively redeveloped over the next nine months. "It is a unique asset and is the only site with full planning permission to develop a world-class, private, day-care facility within Dublin city centre. It is uniquely located close to the Mater Private," Mr Marley said.

The new day-hospital will have a 40-bed capacity.

The existing three-storey-over-basement main house will incorporate 19 consultant suites and an annex to the south of the building will accommodate a new physiotherapy and diagnostics unit. The northern wing will house ancillary services and connect to a new medical building.

The consideration for Aldborough Developments is being funded through the issue of some 2.64 million additional Newcourt shares, which trade on the IEX market in Dublin and Alternative Investment Market in London.

Newcourt shares lost 5 cent in Dublin to close last night at €1.60.