SIPTU HAS DECIDED to withdraw a planning application to completely demolish the Liberty Hall building and to construct a replacement 20-storey building on the site.

The original planning application, submitted on February 11 last year, had seen the trade union propose to demolish the current building, which rises to 17 storeys, and to replace it with a new building including two basement storeys.

The proposed new building would have had two mezzanine areas, on the ground and 17th floors, and would include a public heritage centre and ‘skypod’ on its three uppermost floors.

This afternoon, however, SIPTU general secretary Joe O’Flynn said the application had been withdrawn “due to detailed design issues” with the proposed redevelopment.

“While the union, its professional advisors and Dublin City Council officials have worked hard to resolve these outstanding issues, time simply ran out on us,” he said.

“After detailed consideration, SIPTU has withdrawn the application to allow more time to resolve these matters and we intend to re-apply for planning permission within three months.”

SIPTU remained committed to the replacement of its current building, O’Flynn added, because the current premises were no longer fit for purpose.

Other aspects of the delayed proposal included a refurbishment of the Liberty Hall theatre and its extension into a new conference area.

It had also proposed to include a “naturally ventilated shallow office space”, an increased floor-to-ceiling height in order to maximise the natural light taken into the building, and a rainwater harvesting system to minimise the building’s external water demands.