The other commercial property stories of the week in brief...

Bord rejects M&S's plans

An Bord Pleanála has told Marks Spencer it can’t build a 10-storey extension to the rear of its store (above) in the Jervis Centre on Mary Street, Dublin 1 because it could interfere with the operation of the Luas. This decision overturns an earlier one by Dublin City Council to approve the development subject to over 20 planning conditions.

MS wanted to develop the building as part of a wider plan to expand and revamp its store. It wanted to demolish a two-storey structure to the rear of the store and build a 10-storey retail, commercial and residential scheme fronting Upper Abbey Street and Liffey Street.

This would have provided an extension to the ground and first floor level retail space located mainly in the six-storey Mary Street building with seven floors of 42 apartments above. However, the Railway Procurement Agency appealed the planning permission to An Bord Pleanála saying MS had failed “to address the concerns over road user safety which RPA consider will arise from the proposed development”.

An Bord Pleanála also ruled that, given its prominent location on Upper Abbey Street (visible from a number of sensitive locations including O’Connell Street), the scheme’s excessive height and scale would be “overly dominant” on the landscape. It ruled that the size and layout of the proposed service yard and proximity of vehicular access to Luas stops could pose a serious traffic hazard “and interfere with the efficient operation of the Luas”.

New faces at WKN

Property asset management specialists WK Nowlan and Associates (WKN) has made a number of personnel changes in response to changes in the property market. Tom Foley, former director of KBC Bank, has joined the WKN board as non-executive chairman; Eoin McDermott is joining the company as director in charge of valuations; Liam Ryan has joined WKN as a consultant to offer advise on management and financial matters; Frank Murray has been appointed director of technical services. Other directors, Frank O’Neill and John Vaudin, will continue to take responsibility for business planning and property consultancy.

Bill Nowlan will continue in the role of managing partner, concentrating on investment transactions. Kevin Nowlan is leaving WKN to work for Nama.