(02-16-2004) U2 to pay for failed planning wrangle - Belfast Telegraph.com.uk *

The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

Regina O'Numb

War Child
Joined
Dec 6, 2003
Messages
675
Location
Music Rising
U2 to pay for failed planning wrangle.

Supergroup have huge bill over bid to save studio.

By Treacy Hogan.
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk.

16 February 2004.
BILLIONAIRE superband U2 didn't get what they were looking for after the Republic's government refused to foot a huge bill for an unsuccessful planning battle to save their beloved studios from demolition.

The Republic's planning authority - An Bord Pleanala - has rejected a claim from the group which will now have to pay its full costs for the failed challenge.

The board has told the group that it is not going to order the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) to pay their costs.

U2 had lodged a claim with An Bord Pleanala for its full costs of a failed challenge to the board to prevent the compulsory purchase of the studios at Hanover Quay in the Grand Canal Dock area of Dublin's Ringsend.

The claim ran to a significant amount, it is understood.

The board has just written to solicitors for U2 completely rejecting their claim, it was learned.

An Bord Pleanala said it had declined to direct the DDDA to pay any sum towards the U2 costs for the high-profile four-day hearing in the Gresham Hotel.

No reason was given for the refusal. The docks authority won the right to compulsorily demolish the studio as part of a 2bn euro development of the area.

While the supergroup lost their appeal to An Bord Pleanala they reached agreement almost immediately afterwards with the docks authority for a replacement studio building in the area.

After the original hearing last year the band's management said arrangements had been made with the docks authority to allow the band to stay in the docklands area in a new building.

The original studios were being levelled as part of a rejuvenation plan which includes 1,200 new homes and the creation of 20,000 jobs in a development of shops, restaurants, bars and an open-air amphitheatre.


The 24-acre site is being transformed into a cultural square which is hoped will rival the nearby Temple Bar area.

U2 had recorded four albums at the studios. These were Passengers, Pop, the soundtrack for Million Dollar Hotel and All that You Can't Leave Behind, and had begun recording a new album there.

But An Bord Pleanala threw out their planning appeal after concluding that the acquisition by the docks authority of the lands was necessary to achieve regeneration in line with the planning scheme approved by the Minister for the Environment.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=491886
 
BILLIONAIRE superband U2

:confused:

No wonder they're in no hurry to finish up the album and go on tour. They have their billions to spend, after all.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom