Clash of the property titans snags €90m plan

BUSINESSMAN Jim Mansfield's ambitious plans to build a conference centre in west Dublin have been stymied - for the second time - by the Point Depot owner, Harry Crosbie, in the latest round of a high-stakes turf war between the two titans of development in the Dublin area.

Mr Mansfield, the controversial developer who has long harboured hopes of building a 6,000-seat convention centre beside his City West Hotel on the outskirts of Dublin, submitted scaled-back plans to the local authority in April in hope of his building getting the green light from the planners.

But Harry Crosbie, the entertainment entrepreneur whose consortium won the bid to build a conference facility in Dublin's docklands, is so far the sole objector to date to Mr Mansfield's plans.

Mr Crosbie, along with Treasury Holdings and CIE, won the contract to build the long-awaited national conference centre in Spencer Dock in April. However, Mr Crosbie's main concerns with the City West conference centre appear to be its potential as a concert venue.

In a submission to South Dublin County Council, consultants acting for Mr Crosbie's Point Exhibition Company refer to Mr Mansfield's "alleged" conference centre. They suggest that it is "clearly designed" for large scale concerts, rather than conferences - and say it can accommodate far more the 4,000 claimed in the planning application.

Sources close to the developer said Mr Mansfield was upset that his latest plans, said to be worth in the €70m-€90m region, have once again prompted objections from Mr Crosbie, whom he sees as a commercial rival.

They said the project had been scaled back to meet planners' concerns and that the issue of public transport to City West was resolved with plans to extend the Luas to Citywest and the widening of the N7.

Mr Mansfield declined to comment. Mr Crosbie could not be contacted by this newspaper.

The two men are amongst the wealthiest developers in the capital and both have been credited with rejuvenating their respective territories.

Jim Mansfield, who is worth an estimated €420m, built the biggest hotel complex in Ireland in west Dublin, although his developments have brought him into repeated conflict with the planning authorities.

Harry Crosbie, worth an estimated €315m, has spearheaded the development of the city's docklands through the Point Theatre, which he controls and where he plans to develop an €800m multi-function Point Village complex.

Mr Mansfield's latest plans have scaled back his Convention Centre from a 6,000-seater to a 4,000-seater, covering 7,500 square foot with huge 13 metre high ceilings. The project has been supported by numerous commercial companies, including the association of Irish conference organisers.

But John Spain, consultants to Mr Crosbie's company, suggest that if Mr Mansfield does get planning permission for his conference centre, he should be required to give an undertaking that he won't hold concerts there or accommodate more than 4,000 people.

Irish Independent

City to get conference centre on banks of the Liffey

IT'S been a long time coming but now a glass-fronted newcomer is set to upstage its neighbours on the Liffey and become a landmark on the Dublin skyline.

The five levels of conference rooms, exhibition and banqueting space, and the 2,000-seat auditorium of the National Conference Centre have been much heralded over the past few years.

The UCD-educated architect who created the blueprint for the building admitted he had high aims in mind.

A "legacy" building was Pritzker prize-winning Kevin Roche's aim - one which would be as iconic as the Four Courts and the Custom House.

The €400m project had been mired in planning issues, but permission has finally been granted and diggers are already standing by on the 81-acre site.

Milestone

Arts Minister John O'Donoghue said that yesterday's signing of the contract with the Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium, involving Treasury Holdings, businessman Harry Crosbie and Irish Rail, was a "milestone" for Irish tourism.

The NCC, to be located on the banks of the Liffey at Spencer Dock, will be less than half a mile from O'Connell Street and is expected to be completed by 2010.

The centre, boasting 22 meeting rooms, will accommodate up to 8,000 delegates.

Under the public-private partnership agreement, the consortium have signed up to design, build and finance the centre and will also operate it for a quarter of a century.

During this time it is expected to reap €380m, before the building then reverts to the ownership of the State.

Tourism chiefs have already started taking bookings, with the centre expected to be opening its doors for business in 2010.

Business tourism, including conference travel, is worth €475m to the Irish economy each year, according to Failte Ireland estimates.

Economy

The NCC is expected to be a moneyspinner for the economy, with estimated earnings of up to €50m a year.

Last night tourism and business interests welcomed the awarding of the contract.

Failte Ireland chair Gillian Bowler said Ireland would now be able to compete among the best to attract lucrative events here.

"I am particularly pleased that such a striking and innovative design has been selected, which will enhance the Liffey scape for generations to come," she said.

The Irish Hotels Federation said that the facility would help the country attract a larger share of the €40bn global conference market.

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce said that the announcement came at a critical time, given the loss of venues such as Jurys Ballsbridge, which had over 850 conference seats.

Louise Hogan
Irish Independent