CHARTERED LAND ANNOUNCES PLANS
TO REGENERATE THE HEART OF DUBLIN CITY
CHARTERED LAND, one of Ireland’s leading commercial property companies announced on 21 April its intention to apply for planning permission to Dublin City Council for the development of “Dublin Central”, a 5.5 acre, mixed-use scheme on O’Connell Street. The proposal represents a EUR1.25bn investment in and around the Carlton Cinema site on O’Connell Street and is expected to create almost 3000 new jobs for Dublin on completion, with up to 7000 to be employed at the peak of construction. It is intended that the planning application for Dublin Central will be lodged with Dublin City Council later this week.
Subject to planning permission being granted, Dublin Central will incorporate two new public streets and three new public squares, 108 modern apartments, 109 new retail stores, a major flagship department store, a roof-top restaurant quarter with 17 new restaurants and a sensational new visitor attraction - the “Park in the Sky”.
The scheme is designed by Dublin Central Architects (DCA), a partnership between Burke-Kennedy Doyle Architects, McGarry Ni Eanaigh Architects and Donnelly Turpin Architects.
Speaking of the scheme, Dominic Deeny, Chief Executive, Chartered Land said: “Dublin Central will create a vibrant urban quarter on Upper O’Connell Street, revitalise the city centre retail offer and provide a ‘must see’ visitor attraction for Ireland. We believe we have a world class design and a totally committed team to deliver our vision.”
Central to the scheme is a spectacular and unique visitor attraction for the city. The “Park in the Sky” will sit above the scheme’s iconic building and will include at its summit a panoramic observation deck which will provide visitors with a stunning vista of Dublin city. The summit of the attraction will be accessed via a funicular transport system, designed by Marks Barfield Architects, through the “Park in the Sky” which will be fully accessible to the public.
In planning the project, Chartered Land has given extensive consideration to the historic nature of a number of the buildings within the area.
“Conservation interests will be protected within the scheme and in fact are given a renewed focus. The scheme has been designed to sensitively integrate existing historical buildings and structures to ensure a careful balance between the old and new,” said Deeny.
The scheme includes a total of twelve listed structures which will be handled in a variety of ways from full retention and restoration to façade retention. The façade of the Carlton Cinema will be retained and relocated 50 metres north of its current position. This is in order to facilitate the opening up of the new square to O’Connell Street at a crucial point on the thoroughfare.
Michael McGarry, DCA said: “Dublin Central will transform what has become a marginal urban landscape into a bustling social and cultural environment. It will be a world-class metropolitan development on a scale unprecedented in the city centre. Our vision is to celebrate the city’s prime thoroughfare by creating a striking new piece of Dublin architecture and an unrivalled European retail and leisure destination.”
The market tradition of Moore Street is to be preserved and enhanced. The Moore Street Traders, Dublin City Council and Chartered Land have agreed the principle and will work further to develop the plan for a reinvigorated market presence on the street.
“Dublin Central embraces the status of 14-17 Moore St. as a National Monument and it will be refurbished in conjunction with the Department of the Environment and Dublin City Council. It is proposed that No. 16 will be suitably restored to commemorate the events of 1916,” added Deeny.
Dublin Central will include a number of “green features” such as the harvesting of rain water from the scheme’s roof for use in building services throughout the development; naturally-ventilated streets reducing the need for air-conditioning; heat reclamation for tenants and a waste management area within the scheme which will recycle waste such as cardboard, glass, metal and plastics at source. 100 per cent efficient lighting will be used in all apartments together with additional insulation double glazing and solar-powered heating.
The original ‘Carlton’ site, which is located at the heart of Dublin Central, has been the subject of many different development proposals over a number of years.
“In assembling our proposal, we would like to acknowledge the contribution of Paul Clinton who originally foresaw the possibilities the redevelopment of the site would bring to the city. Mr. Clinton’s work on the project has influenced many of the key decisions including the proposed pedestrian link from Upper O’Connell Street to Moore Street, the Moore Street market and the 1916 National Monument. His advice and input in bringing Chartered Land’s plans to the table has been invaluable. Chartered Land also acknowledges the critical intervention by Councillor Gerry Breen in facilitating the resolution of some key challenges in bringing this opportunity for the city to fruition,” concluded Deeny.
Chartered Land, the company behind the project, is a development company set up by Joe O’Reilly. The company is currently involved in projects in Dublin’s South King Street, Grand Canal Square, the ILAC Centre and the Pavilions in Swords.
ENDS
Roddy Guiney,
Wilson Hartnell Public Relations
T.: 00353 1 669 0030
E.: roddy.guiney@ogilvy.com
Paul Gray,
Wilson Hartnell Public Relations
T.: 00353 1 669 0030
E.: paul.gray@ogilvy.com
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