The High Court is expected to clarify on Friday whether work on some parts of a major office development in Dublin city centre may continue in light of a legal action taken by the chairwoman of a nearby tenants' organisation. Ms Vera O'Connor of TLMG Tenants Association - which includes tenants in Townsend, Luke, Moss and Gloucester Streets - had taken proceedings against Dublin Corporation over the development, between Townsend Street and George's Bank, south of the Liffey.
In a reserved judgment yesterday, Mr Justice O'Neill turned down the residents' claims in respect of changes to the planning permission for certain blocks, but held in favour of them in relation to proposed amendments to two blocks.
The judge said he would hear submissions from lawyers involved in the case on Friday, when it is expected that the consequences of yesterday's ruling will be clarified.
A 10-year planning permission subject to 13 conditions was granted by An Bord Pleanala (ABP) on March 20th, in 1991 and much of the development has since been carried out. Following an application in 1998, the corporation granted permission for a number of revisions and amendments but its decision was later overturned on appeal by ABP. A condition of the 1991 original planning permission was that drawings and other particulars in relation to some blocks be submitted to the corporation, to clarify extent, layout and appearance of the proposed development.
The residents have claimed that the drawings and particulars submitted in 1999 indicated that the developers had proposed new and re-designed elevational treatment. The corporation and the developers, Borg Developments Ltd, denied the claims.