OPW knocks unlisted ‘historic’ building

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has demolished part of a building on Leeson Lane in Dublin 2 which Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell had requested be listed on the Record of Protected Structures. The OPW sent in bulldozers last week and demolished the rear of one of the buildings. A brochure circulated by the OPW’s selling agent McNally Handy coloured over the demolished part of the building. “Demolishing part of the building as we are doing now, prior to the sale, removes planning risk for any developer wishing to build on the site,” said a spokesman for the OPW. “In effect, the risk removed is the possibility of being forced to retain all or part of the building during the planning process with a consequent decrease in value. OPW will make more money for the exchequer from this site by proceeding in this way and we have an obligation to maximise the value of state assets under our aegis.”

The Sunday Business Post