Last March An Bord Pleanála confirmed Dublin City Council's decision to refuse permission for businessman Denis O'Brien's plan for a 26-storey residential tower on a site adjoining the Garda station in Donnybrook, because of its "excessive height and scale".
In June, the appeals board also upheld Dublin City Council's decision to grant permission for a 32-storey residential tower and associated development on a site owned by the Office of Public Works opposite Heuston station, saying this should not be seen as a precedent.
In July, having agreed to pay 260 million
for Jurys Hotel in Ballsbridge, developer
Seán Dunne said his plans for a "top-class" apartment scheme for the five-acre
site would include a landmark tower of
up to 32 storeys on the corner of Lansdowne Road.
In August, Treasury Holdings withdrew its plans for another 32-storey tower on Barrow Street, at Grand Canal Docks, after Dublin City Council requested a raft of further information on the scheme, including a "shadow analysis" to gauge its effects on nearby houses.
Treasury Holdings already has full planning permission for two other high-rise residential schemes at either end of the dock basin - Alto Vetro (a 16-storey tower at the corner of Pearse Street) and Monte Vetro (an 18-storey tower next to the Grand Canal Dock Dart station).
In September, An Bord Pleanála granted permission to Treasury Holdings for a 12-storey landmark tower on the Blake's site beside the N11 in Stillorgan, overruling the planning inspector, who recommended refusal on grounds of obtrusiveness and visual amenity.
Last month the appeals board reversed Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's decision to approve plans by brothers Ciarán and Colum Butler for a 15-storey tower on the Stillorgan Bowl site, citing concerns about its "excessive" density, scale and height.
In September two local residents' associations appealed against Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown's decision to grant permission to developer Noel Smyth for a 24-storey tower on the MJ Flood site in Sandyford Industrial Estate, branding the proposed development "obscene".
Also in September, businessman Harry Crosbie unveiled plans for a 32-storey tower adjoining the Point, on North Wall Quay,
saying it would form a "maritime gateway" along with the planned U2 tower on Britain Quay, which is being redesigned at a similar height.
An Bord Pleanála is to make a decision shortly on plans by a Cork-based developer John Fleming for a 17-storey tower on a four-acre site carved out of the grounds of the British ambassador's residence at Glencairn. Local residents characterised it as "preposterous".
In Cork, planning permission has been secured by O'Flynn Construction for a 17-storey residential tower at Eglinton Street, facing the South Link Road. At 70m (76.6 yards), it will be even higher than Cork County Hall, currently the tallest building in the State.
In Limerick, the finishing touches are being put to Riverpoint, a 17-storey office tower on a prominent site facing Shannon Bridge. Landmark buildings planned elsewhere, ranging in height from 10 to 15 storeys, include schemes in Athlone, Drogheda and Sligo.
Frank McDonald