Dublin city centre is to get a new streetscape if the planners approve a £16 million (20.32m) redevelopment scheme on Tara Street, one of the capital's busiest transport links.

Coolbrook Developments, a company controlled by Paddy Kelly and John Flynn, has lodged a planning application to demolish a row of buildings running from Mulligans public house on Poolbeg Street right down to George's Quay.

This will involve the demolition of virtually half a city block to make way for a 51,000 sq ft mixed office and retail scheme. Most of the redevelopment will be concentrated on the former Marlborough headquarters building on Tara Street, and although the company has assembled additional parts of the site, it still has to bring a number of leaseholders and freeholders on side.

Shops on the site include a convenience store, a shoe repair service and a fast-food restaurant.

The site is directly opposite an old office building where CIE proposes to develop a high rise office scheme over Tara Street station.

The former three-storey Marlborough building and the adjoining shops are to be replaced by a distinctive eight-storey block along Tara Street with the two highest levels set back. Designed by architect Sam Stephenson, the block will have a pyramid-shaped penthouse on top along with a roof garden. It will be the same height as the adjoining Apollo House and Tara House opposite it.

It will stand four-storeys high along George's Quay with the fifth and six floors set back to accommodate roof gardens. The glazed and granite facade along the quays will be in keeping with the nearby Corn Exchange. The block will also be stepped down to four storeys on Poolbeg Street out of respect for Mulligans's, one of Dublin's great bars.