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http://www.unison.ie/drogheda_independent/stories.php3?ca=34&si=1614343&issue_id=14045

Scotch Hall tower plan abandoned
By Donncha MacRaghnaill

DROGHEDA’S proposed skyscrapers have been scrapped in a dramatic scale down of the new Scotch Hall expansion on the Marsh Road.

In a dramatic turn of events, developer Talebury Properties Ltd has axed it plans to seek permission for two large residential towers, one measuring 27 stories high, the other at 13 stories as part of the Southbank development, a phase two of the Scotch Hall development.

The revelation came in the latest official correspondence on Friday, April 21, with the borough council which had requested clarification on certain points of further information it had received concerning Drogheda’s most ambitious planning application to date.

Talebury Properties, owned by Galway developer Gerry Barrett, had previously scaled down the height of the towers, but has now completely removed the residential portion, consisting of some 159 apartments.

Planned bars, a restaurant, crèche and cafes which were at the base of the towers are also gone.

The latest correspondence stated: ‘It is noted that the residential towers are clearly high elements and have generated a high level of concern with the local authority (and third parties).

‘For this reason this entire element has been removed in order to allow the processing of the rest of the application,’ it said.

The proposed multiplex cinema remains in the plans as does a host of retail and office units, all of which the borough council is yet to make a decision on.