The Irish Times

Dublin's north docks are to be developed as a mixed commercial and residential quarter, at an estimated cost of £2billion, under a draft planning scheme unveiled yesterday. Mr Peter Coyne, chief executive of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA), said he was confident the requisite infrastructure - including a rail tunnel under the River Liffey - would materialise to permit the scheme to proceed. The scheme provides for a single tall tower - up to 100 m (330 feet) high - on a new public square behind the Point Depot, erminating a tree-lined boulevard along Mayor Street. However, it sets a limit of 44 m (11 storeys) on the maximum height of new buildings on the pivotal Spencer Dock site, so only the glazed apex of the long-delayed National Conference Centre would intrude on the "Georgian Mile" vista from Fitzwilliam Street.