Grand Canal Harbour is located in Dublin 8, to the west of Dublin City Centre, between two of the City’s landmarks being the Guinness Storehouse and Gravity Bar and St. James’ Hospital. Comprising of 1.32 hectares Grand Canal Harbour is a strategic city site identified by the Council as a suitable site for intensification and regeneration.

Grand Canal Harbour is conveniently located between two major aerial routes to and from the city centre and suburbs – James’s Street / Thomas Street and Cork Street. Grand Canal Place is approximately 1.3km from Heuston Station, 2.8km from O’Connell Street and 3.7km from St Stephen’s Green.Public transport in the area is good with numerous bus routes operating along the aerial routes. In addition, the lands are positioned between two LUAS Red Line stops (Fatima and James’s). Commuter / regional links are also close by at Heuston Station

VISION & DEVELOPMENT

In February 2011 Dublin City Council granted planning permission on the site which will deliver a new and sustainable new mixed use development consisting of retail, residential, leisure, medical and commercial floorspace in this strategic city site identified by the Council as a suitable site for intensification and regeneration. The new floorspace will be realised within a framework of new pedestrian links, streets and civic spaces. Given the size and location of this historical site, a clear vision was adopted by the team focused on Regeneration, Urban Design and Quality

One major new public space is provided for occupying the site of the former Northern Basin which forms a semi-circular space, bound on its northern edge by the historic Maltings Building. Water is introduced into the site as an interpretation of the site’s historic use, used as a landscape feature to enhance the amenity of the site and contribute to the richness of the public space provided

Grouped in six urban blocks the development will deliver:

• Up to 370,000 Sqft of office space, in three buildings of varying heights from 4 to 11 storeys.
• 84 bedroom hotel, with associated restaurant, cafe, bar and gym areas.
• 31 Residential Apartments.
• The restoration and conversion of the Maltings Building, a Protected Structure existing on site, to provide Retail and cultural use.
• Up to 75,000 Sqft of Medical Use
• New civic and public spaces including the Northern Basin, an extension of the Market Street into the development, pedestrian links, and widened pavements to existing streets adjacent to the development.

Grand Canal Harbour will deliver a new, safe and vibrant destination for local residents and workers and will build upon the success of Guinness Storehouse as a major attractor of visitor footfall to the locality.

OPPORTUNITY

In spite of the economic and property market situation, the future economic growth of Dublin (and indeed Ireland) is dependent on improving the country’s competitiveness and stimulating the growth of a ‘Smart Economy’ with creative industries playing a key role. Central to this will be the development of a vibrant dynamic city region that is safe, promotes creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, has high quality buildings in knowledge clusters to attract global headquarters, has sophisticated communications technologies and provides a good quality of life for all living and working residents.

Each of the proposed uses will contribute positively to the requirements for a ‘Smart Economy’, while also protecting and sustaining the existing range of key economic drivers in the Liberties. Not only will the redevelopment as proposed be sustainable in its own right, it will also ensure the long term sustainability of these vital local economic generators and will act as a catalyst for future development in the immediate area. As such, the subject site plays a pivotal role in the overall regeneration of the Liberties area.