Shutterstock / Tom Gowanlock Shutterstock / Tom Gowanlock / Tom Gowanlock

THIS WEEK THERE was some shrewd advice on offer for property owners. Homeowners were advised to give ‘careful consideration’ to any decision regarding moving their mortgage – no matter how good things might first appear. There was also kerfuffle in Palmerstown, a suburb in the south of Dublin, over whether it should be named with a ‘W’ or without a ‘W’.

The Big Movers

Boland’s Mill development facing criticism The dockside development has been back in the news again this week, facing criticism over the amount of housing to be included in the build.

At an area meeting earlier in the week, Dublin city councillors were told that 42 residential units were set to be provided over 6,500 sq ft. This was deemed to be too few and in keeping with the 30% residential plan laid out for the Docklands area. There was also criticism over the sized of the residential spaces – with only 11 of the units set to be three-bedroomed. The right mortgage deal  Mortgage holders have been encouraged by the Irish Brokers’ Association to study the fine print in detail when it comes to switching mortgages. This is with the aim of reducing ‘significant costs’. This came after Pernament TSB offered customers €1,000 off of their legal fees for switching their mortgages to the bank. While this deal was described as being ‘potentially lucrative’, those switching were warned to take ‘careful consideration’. Love/Hate flats  A block of flats located in the north of Dublin, used in recent times for a crime scene in television programme Love/Hate, may potentially be reopened. Part of the O’Devaney Gardens flats have remained in use and current residents are sceptical about reopening the rest of the building – due to its poor condition.

O'Devaney Gardens, pictured in 2008 Mark Stedman / Photocall Mark Stedman / Photocall / Photocall

Inspections by Dublin City Council’s housing department have taken place on the flats in recent weeks. Previous plans to regenerate the flats were scrapped two years ago due to lack of funds.

Under construction

• With a ‘W’ or without a ‘W’ – that was the question in Palmerstown (or Palmerston) this week.
• Global oil prices have been in free fall for months now – so why aren’t our heating bills coming down?   
• Remember that whole Irish Water thing? The long term plans for the meters have been revealed. 
• Dún Laoghaire’s floating outdoor swimming pool that looks like it might not be going ahead after all. 

The artist impression of the urban beach in Dun Laoghaire The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company

• Eircom has been criticised for overcharging its domestic customers.  
• The past couple of days have brought some pretty extreme weather.16,000 homes around the country are still without power.  

Des res

Since Google had to go and stamp all over the traditional “office as a place to work” idea – different companies have been going off in all sorts of creative directions. Here is the latest effort from Second Home – a London-based office space co-founded by a former adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron.