The decision to grant permission to build what will be the country’s tallest tower has been slammed as a “catastrophic error” that will cause “irrevocable damage” to Dublin’s character.
That is according to An Taisce, who warned that the construction on George's Quay will open up the way for more high-rise buildings in the city centre.
Bearded boom time builder Johnny Ronan’s 22-storey skyscraper - which finally won approval from An Bord Pleanala after two years of wrangling with the planning authority, is projected to be around 30m higher than Liberty Hall.
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Last week, Mr Ronan's company Tanat received approval for the construction, after failing at the first attempt.
An Taisce quickly criticised the decision, saying: "The decision of An Bord Pleanala to permit a 22-storey highrise tower at Tara Street, opposite the Custom House, is a catastrophic error which undoes decades of planning control in Dublin and will irrevocably damage the city's irreplaceable character.
"Amid the general fiasco that has characterised Irish planning over the last 60 years, there was at least one achievement of maintaining Dublin as one of Europe's low-rise major historic cities. This is now lost.
"The allowing of highrise towers in the centre of Dublin is gravely erroneous. The city already has a highly defined identity of historic streets and squares, rivers and canals, grand public buildings and churches, plus its rich literary and artistic associations.
"The permitted 22-storey tower will constitute a massive intrusion on the established character of the city centre, having an enormous and adverse impact on a number of important Conservation Areas including Trinity College, the Liffey Quays, College Green and O'Connell Street."
However, not everyone is against the proposal.
Pro business group Dublin City Chamber - who last year provided a letter of support for the project - said the build "has the potential to act as a catalyst" for the inner city area where it will be built.
Just over two years ago, Ronan requested to build an 88 metre-tall tower on the site just beside Tara Street Dart Station.
The plans included a 110-bedroom hotel, as well as a rooftop bar.
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