Mansfield gets go-ahead for €50m convention centre at Citywest

Developer Jim Mansfield has got the green light from South Dublin County Council to complete his controversial €50 million convention…

Developer Jim Mansfield has got the green light from South Dublin County Council to complete his controversial €50 million convention centre at Citywest, in Saggart, Co Dublin.

The council has also granted permission to Mr Mansfield's company, HSS Ltd, to retain the steel frame and a partial roof of the centre, which were built without planning approval.

Last year his company was fined €1,750 and ordered to pay costs of almost €30,000 to the council after Tallaght District Court found it had failed to comply with an enforcement order by the council to stop work on the centre.

An Bord Pleanála subsequently overturned the original planning permission. However, a vote last November by councillors backing completion of the centre paved the way for Mr Mansfield to submit another planning application to continue and retain the development.

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The three-storey convention centre will have a main hall, temporary stage, seating for up to 6,000 people, meeting rooms, a bar, 675 car-parking spaces and a covered walkway to Citywest's hotel and golf course.

Citywest already has a 4,000-seater conference centre. One of the conditions of planning permission is that only one of the conference venues can be used at any one time.

Edel Morgan

Edel Morgan

Edel Morgan is Special Reports Editor of The Irish Times