Plans for the Spencer Dock Development in Dublin have been described as reminiscent of Mountjoy Prison or the flats at Dolphin's Barn. The comments were made by an architect acting for financier, Dermot Desmond, on the third day of An Bord Pleanala's hearing into the development.
Architect Paul Keogh, part of Dermot Desmond's team objecting to the plans, said that high rise development in cities like Paris and Barcelona is kept outside the historic centres, and that this plan, in its sheer scale, is more suitable for corporate America. He also said the plans make no use of the fantastic potential for development along the banks of the Royal Canal and that here we could learn a lot from Amsterdam. He likened the residential blocks in the plan to Dolphin's Barn flats or Mountjoy Prison.
Mr Keogh's opinions were challenged by Mr Tom Phillips, the planning consultant for the Spencer Dock Development Company. He said that Mr Keogh was one of the architects involved in the rejuvenation of Temple Bar, but to compare the two projects is to compare apples with oranges.
This afternoon An Taisce outlined its objections, on a number of grounds including the demolition of listed buildings, inadequate social housing, and a lack of open space. Tonight six local residents made their objections to the development.
