Dublin People - Northside revamp gets green light

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Northside revamp gets green light

Thursday, 07 August 2008

LAST week’s decision to grant a major face-lift for the Henry Street area has been given a broad welcome across the Northside.
An Bord Pleanála gave the green light for the development of a ‘Northern Quarter’ retail district which will be spearheaded by Arnotts.
Despite the credit crunch, Arnotts is adamant that work on the e750 million development will get underway as early as next year.
“We are absolutely delighted with the decision and we will now work through the conditions of the planning decision with Dublin City Council,” a spokesperson told Northside People.
“We are working towards the commencement of the construction work on the Northern Quarter to get underway sometime in 2009.
“The work should take approximately three years and we expect that with the management of the construction phase, the Arnotts store itself won’t have to close until 2010.”
Planning permission for the massive development is subject to 26 conditions in an effort to ensure “an appropriate mix and intensity of land uses at this location”.
The conditions include the preservation of several protected buildings, for example, works on Independent House, which will be transformed into a 149-bedroom hotel, “shall be carried out in accordance with best conservation practice”.
Initially, the design for the development was to include a 16-storey tower at the corner of Liffey Street Upper and Middle Abbey Street. However, this has been reduced to a six-storey building by the planning board.
The overall development will be a mix of six and seven storey buildings.
Retail will be the primary focus of the Northern Quarter with major extensions on the cards for both Arnotts and Penneys.
However, the development will also include 47 shops and 14 cafes, restaurants and bars and 121 apartments.
It is hoped that the development of the Northern Quarter will complement other nearby development such as the Dublin Central Retail Zone planned for the Carlton and adjoining sites on O’Connell Street.
According to local councillor Emer Costello (Lab), the Northern Quarter concept will “breathe life into the Northside”.
“I’m always in favour of development that brings people into the city centre,” she told Northside People.
“It’s a very exciting and ambitious plan although I’m glad that the development has been scaled back.
“Also, I hope that Arnotts will consult with the public throughout the construction phase and that the local community will benefit from a development levy.”
According to Cllr Costello, the Northside will become a recreational and shopping haven within the next 10 years.
“There are major changes planned for the area between the Carlton site, the Northern Quarter and the Smithfield markets which is likely to be completely regenerated and transformed,” she explained.
“Plans to redevelop the markets are aimed at giving the area a face-lift, somewhere not just for wholesalers and traders but for the public too. It’s very exciting to think that the markets could become the gourmet centre of Dublin.”
She concluded; “Overall, I think the developments, once approached correctly, could greatly establish the north of the city.”

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