Dublin City Council Grants Planning Permission for €100 Million Redevelopment of St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre
Dublin City Council has given the green light for the €100 million redevelopment of the iconic St Stephen’s Green shopping centre. The council has granted planning permission to DTDL Ltd, a company controlled by a fund operated by stockbroker and wealth manager, Davy. The redevelopment aims to rejuvenate the outdated shopping centre, which has been a local landmark since its opening in 1988.
Reduced Scale and Massing
The planning permission was granted after the applicants made revisions to the original scheme, reducing the scale and massing of the proposed development. In a 51-page planner’s report, the council acknowledged that the existing shopping centre is a local landmark but noted that it is not a protected structure. The report concluded that the proposed reductions significantly reduce the visual impact on the sensitive environment surrounding St Stephen’s Green.
Enhanced Use and Cultural Spaces
The revised scheme includes an increased setback at the sixth floor level, reducing the appearance of the building by one storey. The overall scheme aligns with the City Council’s height strategy and aims to achieve a requisite level of intensity of development for sustainability. The developers are proposing to include a cinema and gallery space in the redevelopment, which the council’s planner’s report welcomes as it will generate further cultural activity.
Increased Retail and Office Space
The original scheme included a total gross floor area of 87,932 square meters, with a net increase of 21,419 square meters over the existing development. The new scheme will primarily focus on office use, providing 35,043 square meters of office space and ancillary areas. The level of retail and food and beverage space was increased after the council expressed concerns. The developers aim to attract sustainable retailers by reconfiguring the street-level retail mall to accommodate larger and higher-quality shops. The first floor will also feature a partial retail level, while the upper floors will be designated for commercial office use.
Financial Contributions and Conditions
As part of the planning permission, the council has imposed 20 conditions on the developers. These conditions include a requirement for the developers to pay €3.96 million in planning developer contributions and an additional €1.27 million towards the LUAS C1 Line Scheme, a light rail system in Dublin. These financial contributions will help support the necessary infrastructure and amenities associated with the redevelopment.
Rejuvenation and Gateway to Dublin’s South Retail Core
The architects behind the ambitious plan, BKD architects, stated in an architectural design statement that the St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre has faced challenges in attracting sustainable retailers since its opening. The proposal seeks to enhance the shopping centre and transform it into a high-quality facility that combines retail, office, and cultural spaces. The developers aim to create medium-sized units that are in demand by higher-order retailers, thereby significantly improving the retail offering in the area. Planning consultants for the scheme, John Spain & Associates, argue that the redevelopment represents a significant rejuvenation of a key site at the gateway to Dublin’s south retail core.
Public Concerns and Views
While the redevelopment has received planning permission, some concerns have been raised by members of the public. Frank McDonald, a former Environment Editor at the Irish Times, submitted his objections to the council, stating that the proposed development is an over-scaled office development with retail and food and beverage spaces on the lower levels. McDonald expressed concerns about the potential impact on the view from within St Stephen’s Green, believing that it would be radically changed.
Conclusion
With the granting of planning permission, the €100 million redevelopment of St Stephen’s Green shopping centre can now proceed. The revised scheme aims to breathe new life into the outdated centre and attract sustainable retailers. The inclusion of cultural spaces and the enhancement of retail and office facilities will contribute to the overall revitalization of the area. While some concerns have been raised, the council’s decision reflects the potential benefits and economic impact that the redevelopment could bring to Dublin’s south retail core.
