Sir, – I share Ivana Bacik’s concerns over the proposed five-storey office block at Portobello in Dublin (Business, February 20th).
You quote the planning consultants as saying that the proposal will “make efficient use of an underutilised and predominantly derelict site”. Surely housing would be an even more efficient use?
I think we all know that it’s more housing we need and less office space. Since Covid, more and more people are working from home, negating the need for yet more office buildings.
In Amsterdam some years ago, the city planners intervened when it was becoming clear that the residential nature of the beautiful old canal houses was gradually changing to office use.
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The original design of Dublin’s city centre was residential. Maybe it’s time our city planners took this into account when granting planning permission? – Yours, etc,
GABRIELLE HYLAND,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 11.
