Nightclub manager stalls Grafton Street apartments plan

Dublin City Council has signed off on plan to allow four apartments on the street

Brian O’Toole lodged an appeal against Dublin City Council’s grant of planning permission to the Winthrop Co-ownership
Brian O’Toole lodged an appeal against Dublin City Council’s grant of planning permission to the Winthrop Co-ownership

The manager of the Lost Lane live music venue and nightclub – which formerly housed famed Dublin nightspot Lillie’s Bordello – is stalling plans for new apartments for Grafton Street.

Brian O’Toole lodged an appeal against Dublin City Council’s grant of planning permission to the Winthrop Co-ownership to the change of use at the second, third and fourth floors at 4 and 5 Grafton Street to four apartments.

Businessman David Goddard, who led the recent buyout of Davy’s real-estate arm, co-owns 4-5 Grafton Street along with former Davy boss Brian McKiernan.

The council last month gave the project the go-ahead despite Grafton Street buskers’ fears for their livelihoods.

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In the appeal to An Bord Pleanála, Karl Kent, planning consultant for Mr O’Toole, pointed out that along with being manager of Lost Lane, Mr O’Toole is also manager of Tapped and Harty’s.

Mr Kent said the nightclub/music venue at No 44-46 Nassau Street had been in existence, under various names, for decades.

He said the new apartments would have windows directly overlooking No 44 to 46 Nassau Street.

He said: “We submit that this arrangement is most likely to give rise to friction between future residents and the established nightclub use.”

Mr Kent, of the Doyle Kent Planning Partnership, claims the proposed development “will set up undesirable conflict with future residents and that does not constitute good planning”.

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He claimed the council had not given any consideration to its own city development plan, which points out that entertainment venues create an exciting city for residents and tourists.

In his initial objection, Mr O’Toole said: “This area of Grafton Street is quite a vibrant area full of musicians performing on the street to cheering crowds.

“This development would result in complaints from this living accommodation to Dublin City Council and no doubt would result in restrictions being imposed on these musicians and once again another part of Irish and new Irish culture being destroyed,” he added.

The council granted planning permission after concluding that the development would result in the activation of currently vacant floor space and also would result in the development of residential accommodation over existing commercial premises, which is something that is encouraged and welcomed.

Its planner’s report stated that “this is particularly timely in light of the considerable level of vacancy of floor space on the upper floors of commercial premises in the city, which could assist towards alleviating the existing housing pressures within the city”.

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Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan is a contributor to The Irish Times