Historic building will be turned into office development

A PLANNING application to transform the Northside’s last Georgian mansion into an office development has been given the green light by Dublin City Council.

Aldborough House on Portland Row in the heart of the North Inner City was built in the late 1790s by the second Earl of Aldborough, Edward Stratford and was the second-biggest Georgian private residence in Dublin, after Leinster House.

A protected structure, it was vacated almost two decades ago and despite plans to renovate and restore the building, it fell into disrepair and continued to decay during the 21st century.

The building was sold for an estimated €4.5 million in 2005 and planning permission for a private hospital was granted in 2006 but the project never went ahead.

In recent years, windows have been smashed, lead has been stripped, and it was almost burned down but the Irish Georgian Society, An Taisce and Dublin City Council have made efforts to secure the building.

Current owners, Reliance Investments Ltd, now have permission, subject to a number of conditions, to conserve and restore the building for office use.

However, Dublin Central TD, Mary Lou McDonald (SF) says she’s deeply disappointed that the landmark building was not taken into public ownership. 

“I am sure my disappointment will be felt right across the north inner city and beyond,” the Sinn Féin Deputy Leader added.

“It is hard to believe that the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has allowed Aldborough House, one of the last remaining Georgian buildings in the north inner city dating back to 1796, be surrendered to private interests for the purpose of office space.

“A lack of ambition for the capital city’s rich architectural history has become the Minister’s hallmark. 

“Over the summer I wrote to the Minister on two occasions raising my concerns and seeking a meeting with her. It is disappointing but not a surprise that she neither dealt with the concerns I raised or agreed to meet with me. 

“Aldborough House could be a showcase for the cultural talent of the inner city. It is heartbreaking that this beautiful building will now fall to the hands of a corporate entity with little benefit for the local community.”