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The 22 storey tower was approved by Dublin City Council last week. Marlet Property Group

Permission granted to build one of Ireland's tallest buildings on site of former Apollo House

The development on Tara Street is taller than the Capital Dock by three metres.

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL have granted permission for a 22-storey tower on the site of the former Apollo House building, which will be higher than what is currently the tallest building in the capital.

The development, overseen by the Marlet Property Group, will be known as College Square and located on Tara Street in Dublin city centre.

Dublin City Council officially granted the scheme permission on 8 March.

The new building is set to be 22 storeys tall and will be 82 metres high, making it taller than Capital Dock on nearby St John Rogerson’s Quay.

However, it will not be the tallest building in Dublin by the time it is completed: a development currently under construction by the Ronan Group, also on Tara Street, will hold that record when it is completed, coming in at 22 storeys and 88 metres tall.

The College Square development will be a mix of commercial, retail and residential premises, with the lower half of the tower set to be used as offices.

The upper half will comprise 58 build-to-rent apartments. Of these, 48 will be one-bedroom apartments while the remaining ten will be two-bedroom units.

The top floor will be a two-bed penthouse, with an outdoor terrace wrapping around the entire apartment.

19388_105_Townsend_Str_06-scaled The Townsend Street side of the development Marlet Property Group Marlet Property Group

According to planning documents, there will be an internal amenity space for residents of the building on the 11th floor including a residents’ function room, a lounge, a gym and a south-facing landscaped terrace.

Alongside the residential area, the bottom floors of the building will contain space for either retail premises or cafes and restaurants.

A new diagonal walkway from Poolbeg Street to College Green is also contained within the proposals.

Previous applications for the development had the building at 21 storeys tall, slightly smaller than Capital Dock, which was completed in 2018 and is currently the tallest building in Dublin at 79 metres.

However, developers College Square GP3 Ltd sought new permission from the council in late 2021 to add an additional floor on top of the tower, pushing its height above that of Capital Dock by three metres.

Building height limits 006 Capital Dock Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

The planners report, published on 10 March, says that the new development will “add to the upgrading of one of the most prominent locations” in Dublin city.

The development is also nearby to the Docklands and Georges Quay, two areas which are suitable for buildings of increased density, reads the planners report.

While the new tower block will have an impact on the surrounding view, Dublin City Council have said that an extra floor will not have any greater visual impact.

This comes following observations from An Taisce, who said that there was “no good reason” to raise the height any further.

“Closer views of the scheme such as from George’s Quay, Tara St, and Pearse St and longer distance views from O’Connell St, College St, Trinity College clearly indicate the scheme will have a visual impact however verified views appear to indicate the proposed additional floor is unlikely to have any greater visual impact than the permitted scheme,” the report reads.

It also says that the development would “redefine” Tara Street and Townsend Street, as it would be introducing a high-density building and adding additional interest to the street.

The site itself, while located on the square between Tara Street, Townsend Street, Poolbeg Street and Hawkins Street, is unconnected to Hawkins House, which was demolished in 2020.

The planner’s report also references the walkway from Poolbeg Street to College Green, saying that it will contribute to the improving the area.

“The overall proposed scheme will contribute to the placemaking and to the wider city by providing for improved public realm and pedestrian routes through a significant city block which is not currently permeable,” it reads.

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35 Comments
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    Mute Andrew Matheson
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    Jan 19th 2013, 1:58 PM

    Idiots going up to play in the snow????

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    Mute Abi Dennis
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:12 PM

    How do you know they werent driving home?

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    Mute Adrian Shanahan
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:56 PM

    Abi, as an experienced mountaineer and someone who works in the mountains only a few hundred meters from where the above photo was taken I can assure you that no one local would dare try cross the gap unless in a very specialised 4*4.

    It happens evey time there is snow on the gap people who are in experienced in driving in snow / un used to mountain roads try drive up to see how far they can go and very often get stuck resulting in calling out the likes of DWMR to come help them.

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    Mute John Barnes
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    Jan 19th 2013, 5:00 PM

    Darwin awards anyone?

    56
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    Mute John Hayes
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    Jan 20th 2013, 9:10 AM

    Call out at 3am ???? Still dogging at the weekends sir ?

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    Mute Marie-Jo Thauvin
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    Jan 21st 2013, 11:48 AM

    If they had been driving home they would have chosen one of the following options: 4X4, winters tyres, a more circuitous but more driveable route.

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    Mute Stray Mutt
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:01 PM

    Headline should more appropriately read: A number of cityslickers have ventured into the mountains with predictable consequences….

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    Mute Abi Dennis
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:13 PM

    How do you know they dont live in the area and werent driving home?

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    Mute Chris K
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:28 PM

    If they live there they should have winter tyres as this happens every year, plonkers

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    Mute Irish Cottage Rental
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    Jan 19th 2013, 1:57 PM

    Lovely to look at but not so nice if you get stuck!

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jan 19th 2013, 2:01 PM

    Look out lads…There’s a wolf behind ya!!

    178
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    Mute Caitriona Riffeser
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    Jan 19th 2013, 2:18 PM

    Maybe they should consider the proper winter tyres before driving in snow….

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    Mute David Conroy
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    Jan 19th 2013, 4:13 PM

    Maybe the idiots would consider paying for the time of the volunteers !

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    Mute Méalainí Drake
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    Jan 19th 2013, 4:18 PM

    They should be made pay half at least… if not all of the expenses. Time we started holding idiots responsible.

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Jan 19th 2013, 2:55 PM

    I love seeing folk heading off in the 4×4′s and no formal training..
    A landy with a lift kit,mudzilla’s,winch and a snorkle being towed out of a ditch with a pajero..Class.

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    Mute Ruairi O' Sullivan
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:55 PM

    Something to do with 90% of them being driven from foxrock to Dundrum and back………..and that’s it!

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Jan 19th 2013, 2:48 PM

    Memories of cycling my bike with the mates up to glencree and Sally gap in the wintertime with snow on the ground. Over 30 years ago now.

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:08 PM

    Well done Wicklow Mountain Rescue. Declan I remember going tobogganing up there in my youth…what fun we had never felt the cold, oh the memories!

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    Mute Christine Downey
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    Jan 19th 2013, 4:13 PM

    Fair play to the Rescue Teams, but I’d leave them there till it thaws!

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    Mute harpurlee
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    Jan 19th 2013, 9:00 PM

    Anybody driving up there when they know the conditions and been warned to stay away and the road closed deserve all they get, should be made pay the expenses of the mountain rescue team.

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    Mute Tadhg Concannon
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    Jan 19th 2013, 6:16 PM

    Was up there in a land rover Defender earlier. Properly kited out. Also have trained to drive a 4×4 in the snow. Loads of fun. However Roads are feet deep in snow. Little or no room to turn around if it gets difficult. Would suggest if people don’t have the correct equipment to stay away. There is a fine line between fun and getting stuck. If you are going to play at least put on your lights. Easier to see a person coming and find a suitable passing spot.

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    Mute james doyle
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    Jan 19th 2013, 4:16 PM

    Some brave men going up playing around Sally’s gap!!!!

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    Mute SL
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    Jan 20th 2013, 1:27 AM

    Is that a silver BMW in the middle of the first photo. Seriously!? Front engined rear wheel drive. Face palm.

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    Mute Gemma Donnelly
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    Jan 20th 2013, 9:31 AM

    was thinking the same a rear wheel drive in the snow lol good luck with that one

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    Mute Fionntan Ó Caiside
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    Feb 25th 2013, 9:06 AM

    the driven wheels or engine position of the vehicle are not the issue here, it’s down to the type of tyres fitted to the car, if you have standard road tyres on then you are going nowhere fast, winter tyres help to a certain extent, but the ability of the driver is the key here, basically if you don’t have experience of driving in these conditions or on mud or loose surfaces, then stay the f*** away, at home where its warm and safe, anyway i cant see what would bring people up to the gap, there’s nothing there anyway.

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    Mute Damocles
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    Jan 19th 2013, 6:48 PM

    It’s bad enough driving up there in good weather.

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    Mute Maura Lawless
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    Jan 19th 2013, 10:08 PM

    If these people are stupid enough to try driving around the mountains in the snow and get stuck..let them pay to be rescued and maybe everyone else would learn a lesson and get BLOODY SNOW TIRES

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    Mute Siobhan Hayes
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    Jan 19th 2013, 10:51 PM

    Fair play to the rescue teams, if people listened to the forecast these good people wouldn’t have to go out in such bad weather !!!

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    Mute Shane Cafferty
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    Jan 19th 2013, 5:29 PM

    Wow massive news! Did they have to eat each other to stay “Alive”? Maybe they’ll write a book or do a motion picture in years to come…..

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    Mute Alangb
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    Jan 19th 2013, 7:06 PM

    I dont often do this ….. NOT …… but it has to be said. I would be the first person to challenge this sort of really stupid behavior of people driving out in these conditions when it is unnecessary and I totally agree local people would know better. Believe it or not there is something such as personal responsibility that still exists in this country, although to view this behavior you wouldn’t think so.

    However, the really moronic behavior is the failure of the local authorities and Gardai to block road access until the roads become clear again. Putting up a small sign saying ‘road closed’ is an insult to human intelligence especially those who may not be able to read. Simple block the road until it is OK to pass again.

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    Mute Olive Whyte
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    Jan 19th 2013, 9:02 PM

    The Gardai are not responsible for stupid people, if they can’t read they can certainly see the roads are not safe ahead. What a stupid comment.

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    Mute Tadhg Concannon
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    Jan 19th 2013, 8:14 PM

    Gardai should not close the road
    People should be allowed to make their own decision

    People should have the right to learn

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    Mute Caroline O Brien
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    Jan 20th 2013, 12:17 PM

    why are people so thick they were told it was going to snow arseholes wasting peoples time and money

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    Mute Kevin O'connor
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    Jan 20th 2013, 5:46 PM

    Stupid people should have to pay for the rescue. If it was a standard 500 Euro per car, people might think before going up there. With regard to the road closed sign, most people ignore them, because the Council or the Gardai, forget to take them down when the road is reopened. There are still signs up all over the country about roads that were flooded a month ago. No-one bothered to take them down.

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