U2 have announced that they are going to stay in Dublin’s docklands despite
a ruling that their present studio must be demolished.

A statement from the band said arrangements had been made with the Dublin
Docklands Development Authority to move to a new building. Details of the
development will be announced in the next few weeks.

The band lost their bid to prevent the demolition of their studio in
Dublin’s south docklands earlier today, when An Bord Plean?la gave the
go-ahead for a development at Hanover Quay.

The Dublin band has been recording at the studio since 1994, including their
latest multi-million seller ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’.

The Dublin Docklands Development Authority placed a Compulsory Purchase
Order on a row of buildings at Hanover Quay, arguing that the public would
require access to the waterways from a civic amenity area it is developing
nearby.

The plan was opposed by U2 who argued their studio, which opens out on to
the waterway, should not be demolished as, in part, it constituted musical
heritage.

The band told an oral hearing at the Gresham Hotel in January that they were
identified with the docklands, having recorded at the single storey plus
mezzanine building since 1994 and, prior to that, at Windmill Lane.

However U2 later hinted there might be a compromise when they said that they
did not want to move, but might if a similar building could be located
nearby. Talks failed to reach a compromise.

Another opponent was businessman Harry Crosbie, who will now lose two
adjoining warehouses. His home, which is also in the same area, was not
subject to the CPO.

- RTE

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