Dunne To Spend €31m On Social Initiatives

Irish property developer Sean Dunne has revealed he will spend €31 million on social initiatives as part of his planning application for the Jurys Ballsbridge and Berkeley Court hotel sites.

The Mountbrook Homes boss lodged an application with Dublin City Council to build a 37-storey tower in the former Jury’s hotel site in Ballsbridge.

Mr Dunne has revealed the money will be spent on new community centres, sheltered housing and other initiatives if planning permission is granted for the proposed development.


In a statement released Mountbrook Homes is setting out a “substantial package of social and community gain initiatives for the local area.”

The statement added there may be a "possible" €5 million redevelopment of existing sheltered housing.

It is understood the community centre would have a sports hall, crèche, daycare centre, youth clubs, offices, changing rooms and computer training rooms.

The proposed development will also include a multi-storey embassy complex, shops, offices, theatres, an ice rink and a 232-bedroom luxury hotel. It will be 12 metres taller than the Dublin Spire in O’Connell Street.

A local plan was rejected by Dublin City Councillors in June, which would have allowed high rise developments up to 20 storeys.

(JM/SP)