Around the block

High-rise all the way to 32 storeys in Sandyford: There was a scramble for maps and title deeds this week with the publication of the initial recommendation of the Sandyford Urban Framework commissioned by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

London design consultants Urban Initiative, which previously cast its eyes over Dublin City Council's plans for Ballsbridge, has recommended a high-rise structured approach to the area, which it says has suffered from piecemeal development to date.

At the heart of the plan for the area is a central plaza linking the centre of the area to the reservoirs. It is here that the urban planners have recommended a plaza around which a tower of up to 32 storeys and a cluster of nine towers of 14-24 storeys could be developed.

Overall, 27 possible landmark towers and four green areas have been identified in the blueprint which went on public consultation this week.

While nothing is set in stone until the consultative process is over, it looks like Paddy Shovlin's ambitions to build a 23-storey tower as part of his Gateway scheme will be realised. A tower of up to 14 storeys has been earmarked for the Central Park scheme and a series of seven towers of 14-24 storeys have been proposed along a new public space at the bottom end of Blackthorn Road to be called Waterfront Square which overlooks the reservoirs.

Savills HOK MD makes sweet music for charity

WE knew that Savills HOK managing director Paul McNeive was a good all rounder, but he went one better last week when he donned the tinted glasses and the tight jeans to front U2 Savills at a charity concert in London last week.

The event, which was in aid of Landaid, the UK children's charity, raised around €200,000. Other U2 Savills members are Savills investment directors, Max "Edge" Merryweather, Mark "Clayton" Garmon-Jones and James "Mullen" Guliford. McNeive is an old hand at the music business, and he came out of retirement for the London gig impressing all with his singing talent and sheer neck. Let's hope we get to see the performance in Dublin sometime.

Mellon's tea party with Tutu to say thank you

IRISH developer Niall Mellon keeps a low profile in Ireland, but in South Africa he is a celebrity for the huge effort and money he has put into building houses for the poor of Cape Town through his Township Trust. This year's appeal is well underway with no less than 1,300 construction workers and their bosses heading down to Cape Town in November. Meanwhile, in recognition of all the hard work and hard cash contributed by Irish business people, Mellon is planning to host a tea party for 300 at his Mount Merrion home on Sunday. The guest of honour will be Bishop Desmond Tutu, a close friend of Mellon, who will hand out a series of awards, to be known as the Bishop Desmond Tutu Medals of Recognition. Paddy McGuinness of Concern and Sean Fitzpatrick of Anglo Irish Bank are just two of those lined up to receive the awards, devised by Mellon to say thank you. Let's hope the weather improves for the big day.

Irish to land a number of units on glamour cruise ship

Clearly the Irish are developing a taste for life on the high seas, after Savills HOK hooked at least three potential buyers for apartments on the ocean-going Four Seasons Ocean Residences at a drinks party in the Four Seasons on Tuesday.

Dublin was chosen as one of the first launch venues - along with New York and London - for the 112 apartments on the 13-deck luxury cruise ship, which will permanently circumnavigate the world stopping off at fashionable destinations along the way.

After Dublin, the sales campaign is now moving on to Paris, Moscow, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Around 60 showed up to the party on Tuesday despite the terrential rain. Some of the invitees, plucked from a "rich list" took a more low-key approach and sent their runners along or asked for private one-to-one meetings.

Twelve such meetings have taken place in the last week and three individuals have reserved apartments and are getting the legals checked out.

Punters were attracted to the extreme exclusivity of the ship according to Ronan O'Driscoll from Savills HOK. The most exclusive apartment costs a mind boggling €30 million.

Stamp duty changes sure to lead to a surge of sale completions

WELL, how about that from a grateful government? An extra month, back-dated for first-time buyers. FF was to abolish stamp duty for FTBs of second-hand houses, backdated to April 30th. Now it appears the operative date will be March 31st, to preserve the legal niceties - and no doubt ward off some High Court action that might be taken under an interpretation of existing legislation. An extra month of relief is no mean amount, to put about €3.5 million in the pockets of first-time buyers - and take away from the deep coffers of the Revenue. Remember how, as soon as the word was out that Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach again, all over the land pens were scribbling on contracts to purchase. But leaving date of completion open, until legislation made clear. Now, the date being inserted - and witnessed - will be "including and after March 31st, 2007", thereby depriving Revenue of, well, "revenue".

The political stroke was announced mid-way through the campaign, after both Fine Gael and Labour had pussy-footed about stamp duty changes, advancing modest proposals for reduction. Cowan kept his powder dry with similar prevarication about not "de-stabilising the property market" - and then let fly with both barrels, effectively blowing the FG/Labour concessions out of the proverbial electoral water. Complete abolition for first-timers, backdated to April 30th, he said. As of today, many a contract already in the pipeline will now reach the Land Registry and Taxation Office with magical dates after March 31st. As per Cowan's promise, the surge of completions will gradually re-energise the market. All perfectly legal, once the correct dates are on contracts. Ask any solicitor if he/she can manage a moment this week, from completing due date on contract for sale? Oh the stroke/joy of it!