Four Seasons to get luxury apartments

The Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin 4 has been given permission to convert part of the Ballsbridge hotel into plush apartments, which are likely to be the most expensive apartments in the State.

Dublin City Council has given approval to plans by the owners, Nollaig Nominee Ltd, to transform the entire fifth floor and part of the fourth floor of the hotel into 24 serviced apartments.

These will be known as the Residences at Four Seasons.The work will include the construction of landscaped roof gardens.

The development will represent a significant cash boost for the hotel's owners, although it will reduce the number of rooms in the hotel from 259 to 200.

The group already operates similar schemes in some of its hotels in the US, although this is a first for a Four Seasons hotel in Europe.

It is expected that buyers will be able to avail of all the services of the hotel and will also be able to rent the properties back to the hotel when they are not in residence.

It is reported that up to 200 people have signalled an interest in buying one of the apartments to be developed on the top floor.

Former Revenue official, Derek Quinlan, best known for leading the consortium of Irish investors who bought the Savoy Hotel group in London last year was the lead investor in the Four Seasons Hotel in Ballsbridge.

New look for Dún Laoghaire baths: A €140 million redevelopment plan for the Dún Laoghaire baths site unveiled to councillors on Tuesday would involve the construction of a 10-storey tower, 180 apartments - of which 36 would be social and affordable units - and a 5.5 acre underground water theme park.

The latest proposal will be considered by the council before going on public display. Images of the proposed scheme on the seafront at Sandycove, left and above, show the scheme from the back of Dún Laoghaire's east pier and also from the promenade at Sandycove. The new scheme would replace the existing baths, derelict for over 10 years.

The plans, drawn up by council architects, involve reclaiming 5.5 acres of foreshore between the East Pier and the old baths. Extensive sporting and leisure facilities - including a 25m swimming pool - are planned.