College Green and Dame Street has traditionally been the centre of banking and insurance offices in Dublin.

Many have now moved to Docklands or downsized from their impressive set piece buildings and only Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank remain along with the Central Bank of Ireland.

Clarendon Properties bought the former National Irish Bank Building in 2013. It is a magnificent building with frontage to College Green, Church Lane and St.Andrew Street and takes up half a city block. The ground floor banking hall and the  Board room and Mangers office on first floor are particularly impressive. The entire is a Protected Structure.

Manahan Planners  along with Donnelly Turpin Architects and Grainne Shafrey Conservation Architect  were retained to lodge a planning application.  The proposal was to change the use of the basement to first floor area to a flag ship store for a  H&M retail outlet.The major internal changes will be in the more recently developed part of the buildings toward St Andrew Street whereas the more historical buildings on College Green will see minimal change other than repair of historical elements. This proposal continues the replacement  of bank premises with retail outlets and continues the trend set recently by Abercrombie and Fitch in a neighbouring building.

In addition the upper floors including within the roof area are to be developed as eight large residential units. These will have the highest specification and quality of residential unit in Dublin to date. They will create highly desirable  city centre living  facilities.

There were extensive consultations with the Planning Authority before lodging and permission was granted within the initial 8 week period. There were no objections and so no subsequent appeals. Work will begin on site immedialtely following the Grant of Permission.