Absolute Radio, the British radio station which is backed by Irish property developer Paddy Shovlin, is facing key new audience figures this week. The radio station rebranded from Virgin Radio last September following which its audience fell by a fifth to 1.89 million in January's ratings. It is hoping to claw back those listeners but faces competition from Xfm which is targetting those Virgin Radio listeners who didn't stick with the rebranded Absolute.

Meanwhile, Shovlin's Cornrick Developments will shortly seek planning permission for a mixed use development on a 1.5 acre site he and his wife own at Old Bray Road in Foxrock. The Shovlins are planning to develop a building of up to six storeys on the site whcih would contain 55 residential units, a creche, shops, offices, a cafe and 122 basement car parking spaces. The site is immediately next to the AIB Bank branch.

Shovlin has made millions from the development of the former Microsoft campus in Sandyford where he and business partners Tony and Pat Fitzpatrick developed the Beacon complex.