Towering apartment project for top address

HIGH living is the promise at Ballsbridge — the epicentre of fashionable Dublin 4 — with an exclusive €600 million project.

Occupants of the 109 luxury apartments will have unrivalled views from the top levels of a planned 15-storey residential tower.

If Dublin City Council approves the plans from Glenkerrin development company it aims to provide a number of innovative features in its landmark project.

As well as providing maximum brightness to the lofty residents, glass louvres on the high-rise building’s planned old world facade will control sunlight.

The project, which is earmarked for the former Veterinary College site, is being billed as one of Dublin’s “most exciting and innovative” mixed-use schemes.

It is envisaged to centre the buildings — for offices, retail units, leisure and cultural facilities — around two new plazas and two new shared pedestrian streets.

Developer Ray Grehan of Glenkerrin Homes paid the State €171.5m — the equivalent of a record €84m an acre — for the 2.2 acre site.

Earlier this year assistant city manager Michael Stubbs sent a report to councillors that favoured the rezoning of Ballsbridge sites to allow “mixed-use development of which office, retail and residential would be the dominant uses”.

It is speculated the rezoning plan could pave the way for high-rise buildings up to 20-storeys high for the prestigious Dublin 4 area.

The planning application for Number One Ballsbridge was lodged with Dublin City Council by HKR Architects, the international architecture and design practice.

HKR director David King Smith said careful consideration was given during the design process to concerns expressed by residents.

“This process has resulted in a design that will not only have minimal visual impact but will also integrate with and complement the character and design of the surrounding buildings and Ballsbridge area,” he added.

High-profile developer Sean Dunne paid €260m for Jurys Hotel and Towers site and a further €119m for the Berkeley Court in Ballsbridge in 2005. The price per acre for those deals came to more than €50m.

Meanwhile, Dublin-based Doncot Developments is seeking planning permission to build 152 residential units on a 3.45 acre site at Terenure in the south city.

Comprising seven blocks, the project on the St Pancras Works site, Mount Tallant Avenue, include four-bedroom terrace houses and a series of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Irish Examiner