As the controversy over the occupation of Apollo House moves to the High Court, Dublin City Council has granted permission for the demolition of its larger (and arguably uglier) neighbour, Hawkins House.

This paves the way for the €50m redevelopment of a significant site between Trinity College and the River Liffey involving a number of 50m high blocks incorporating offices, retail, a public plaza and a new diagonal street - this development will include the site currently occupied by Apollo House.

The Department of Health sits next to Apollo House

It will sit on almost a whole city block - between Tara St, Poolbeg St, Townsend Street and Hawkins Street. This is one of the first major developments pursued under Dublin City Council's 2012 George’s Quay local area plan.

The 50m tall development will contain no apartments.

Hawkins House / Archiseek

Hawkins House was built in 1962, its current tenants, employees of the Department of Health, are moving to the former Bank of Ireland Headquarter building on Baggot Street, which is currently being renovated by its owner, Larry Goodman.

Plans to knock it down were originally announced in 2007.

Next door...

The High Court is due to hear an application this morning for an injunction to vacate the NAMA-owned Apollo House in Dublin city.

The 10-storey building has been occupied since the end of last week by a group of campaigners and up to 30 homeless people.

Receivers were appointed to Apollo House in March 2014 and the building has been empty since the middle of last year.

At least it was until the end of last week - when the group 'Home Sweet Home' forced their way in and opened up its doors for homeless people.

 

Additional reporting by Frank Greaney