Office block creation could potentially impair school's ability to provide top-notch education due to its 14-storey height.
In the heart of Dublin 2, the proposed redevelopment of a long-neglected site at City Quay has hit a roadblock. The contentious 14-storey office block scheme, spearheaded by Ventaway Ltd., has faced significant delays due to appeals lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) as of late July 2025 [1][2].
The site in question, previously home to the City Arts Centre, is poised for a transformation, should the project eventually gain approval. According to the council planner's report, the scheme would breathe new life into a massively underutilised vacant site in a prominent city centre location [3].
The scheme, however, has met with opposition from several parties. Declan Brassil, a planning consultant for the trust, and three other entities—An Taisce, St Laurence O'Toole Trust, the administrator of the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and City Quay National School—have lodged appeals against Dublin City Council's grant of permission to Ventaway Ltd. [4][5][6].
The school, with 178 children enrolled, voices concerns over the 10-year planning permission sought for the development, deeming it entirely unacceptable. The principal, Philip Kelly, expresses worries that the development would have a significant negative impact on the school's ability to deliver high-quality education to its pupils [7].
An Taisce's city planning officer, Kevin Duff, shares similar sentiments, objecting to the proposal due to its lack of coherent architectural expression and jumbled appearance [8]. St Laurence O'Toole Trust and the administrator of the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary also share concerns about the proposed office block scheme [6].
Declan Brassil, in addition to his objections, points out that the scheme represents a significant overdevelopment of the site [9]. Furthermore, he, as the owner of four properties in the vicinity—7/8 City Quay, The Presbytery, 9 City Quay, The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and City Quay National School—voices concerns about the monolithic design and scale of the proposed building, which he believes would visually overwhelm the adjoining properties [2].
Dublin City Council, however, has granted planning permission to Ventaway Ltd., a company headed by developer David Kennan and Winthrop engineering group founder Barry English [10]. The company is now preparing to submit a fresh bid to redevelop the site, aiming again to build what would be Dublin's tallest building.
As the saga unfolds, the future of the City Quay site remains uncertain, with both supporters and opponents eagerly awaiting the outcome of the appeal proceedings.
The redevelopment proposal for the City Quay site, involving finance for real-estate investment and office block construction, continues to face opposition, with educational institutions such as City Quay National School and Declan Brassil, a planning consultant, voicing concerns about its potential impact on education quality and visual aesthetics. As the appeal process continues, the future of the site's transformation, initially intended to cover education, self-development, and real-estate, remains uncertain.
