PERMISSION HAS BEEN granted to demolish the Dublin building that’s currently being occupied by homelessness activists as a shelter for homeless people.
The permission to demolish Apollo House was granted on Friday 16 December, the day after the activists entered the building and just over six months after the redevelopment plans were submitted to Dublin City Council.
Permission was also granted yesterday to demolish the adjoining Hawkins House.
In June, separate plans were submitted seeking to knock down Apollo House and Hawkins House and build a number of office buildings ranging in height from five to 12 storeys tall.
Apollo House was previously used by the Department of Social Protection while the Hawkins House building currently houses the head office of Department of Health.
The redevelopment plans for Apollo House were submitted by receivers Mazars while the plans for Hawkins House were submitted bv the Office of Public Works (OPW).
As well as the office space, it’s planned that there’ll be a café/restaurant on the ground floor of the development and a public space with some greenery at the boundary near the former Screen Cinema.
Seven objections were raised to the current plans for Apollo House. These included submissions from local business owners, local residents and An Taisce.
An Taisce stated that the plans for Apollo House are “significantly higher than the existing building.”
The environmental group also made reference to several protected structures nearby. These include Mulligan’s public house on Poolbeg Street and the watchtower of the former Central Fire Station on Tara Street.
Home Sweet Home
Activists occupying the Apollo House building say they have been installing shower and kitchen units in the building to cater for the homeless people staying there.
Up to 35 homeless people have stayed in the building on a given night since last week but the Home Sweet Home group say they are preparing it to cater for up to 60 people.
Members of the media have not yet been allowed into the building since it was occupied but a short video from the Irish Housing Network has filmed the interior.
A legal letter from A&L Goodbody solicitors acting on behalf of the receivers has been sent to the occupiers.
A spokesperson for the receivers said the occupiers were trespassing and that for health and safety reasons they were asking them to leave with immediate effect.
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