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Approval for U2's Clarence Hotel plans
U2 members Bono and The Edge have secured the go-ahead from An Bord Pleanála to redevelop the Clarence Hotel in Dublin.
An Bord Pleanála disregarded the recommendation of the inspector who held the public hearing into the case.
The inspector had recommended that the hotel not be granted planning permission.
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Heritage groups had opposed the plan as most of the art deco hotel, and several Georgian buildings, will effectively be demolished.
Last April, U2's guitarist The Edge told a hearing by An Bord Pleanála that the future of the hotel may be in doubt, if the owners' redevelopment proposals were rejected.
Under those plans, developed by Norman Foster, most of the 1930s hotel, four Georgian buildings, and a Victorian building will be remodelled.
A huge glass atrium will then be built over the new structure, which is part of the designer's plans to make the Clarence one of the top ten hotels in the world.
However, the scale of the redevelopment led heritage groups to oppose it, arguing the redevelopment was inappropriate and affects protected buildings.
John Redmill, a committee member of the Irish Georgian Society, said it was a very black day for historic buildings and asserted the historic skyline of the capital would now be destroyed.
However, Damien Cassidy of the National Conservation Group welcomed the decision.
He withdrew an objection to the project after Bono arranged a meeting for him with the architect Norman Foster.
He said Mr Foster explained that the controversial glass atrium was an environmentally-friendly aspect, which would contribute to the heating of the building.
Mr Cassidy said the decision guarantees the Clarence will remain open for business as a landmark hotel, which was welcome in the context of the closure of several traditional Dublin businesses such as Bewleys and Jurys.
