RTÉ announces long-term plans for Donnybrook site
Dublin, 28 September, 2009: RTÉ has announced long-term plans for the redevelopment of its Donnybrook site.
The project envisages the gradual replacement over a 10-15 year period of most of the current 1960 and 1970s buildings on the Donnybrook site with a purpose-built modern building complex designed for the digital and High-Definition age.
The timing of RTÉ’s announcement has been determined by Dublin City Council’s planned preparation and consideration of a new Dublin City Development Plan. This requires that RTÉ, in common with other major landowners in the city, present its long-term observations at this time.
Project 2025, a redevelopment proposal, that is the result of detailed analysis and planning carried out since 2002, has been discussed with local members of the city council in advance of the review of all council area land zonings that begins in October.
Subject to planning approval, the phased development is intended to begin with new high definition (HD), digital TV and new digital Radio studios and to culminate in a wing incorporating further production areas, rehearsal and performance spaces and staff offices. The plan has evolved through a full review of all options for the renewal of RTÉ’s production base and capital facilities.
Speaking today, RTÉ Director- General, Cathal Goan said:
“Rapid change in production and broadcast technology obliges us to plan and provide for the future. Clearly this is not an ideal time to be announcing a large proposed construction project. But to remain competitive and to continue to give Irish viewers, listeners and web users the best possible services, we have to invest in new facilities built for the digital age.”
“RTÉ has considered carefully the best way to upgrade and develop our broadcast production and transmission facilities while continuing to stay on air. We are confident that the most cost effective, sustainable and technically robust option available is to re-configure our existing site and incorporate all facilities into a single new building.”
“This proposal clearly sets out RTÉ’s intention to remain a key provider of multi-media services to the Irish public for many years to come.”
Given the planning process and the current prevailing economic conditions RTÉ does not anticipate that any construction work on the site could start before 2012. Discussion will take place with local residents’ groups as an integral part of the planning process.
RTÉ will make an application for a 10-year planning consent for the new building development on Friday 9 October.
Background to Project 2025
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In 2002 as a re-organisation of RTÉ began, a project was undertaken to develop a long-term approach to the orderly modernisation and renewal of the facilities at Montrose.
To ensure Irish viewers continue to receive the best quality TV and radio service, over the next 20-30 years, RTÉ must invest in new digital broadcast production and transmission facilities. However, housing these new technologies in the current buildings on the site is not feasible as many of the buildings date from the 1960s and are operationally unsuitable.
Following detailed analysis and examination of all options available RTÉ has determined that the best approach in terms of cost, technical requirements and flexibility is to re-configure the existing site and incorporate all facilities into a single new building.
Project 2025 has been planned in five distinct stand-alone phases with the commencement of each phase determined by availability of funding and business requirements. It envisages the gradual replacement over a 10-15 year period of most of the current 1960 and 1970s buildings on the Donnybrook site with a purpose-built complex of studios, production areas, rehearsal and performance spaces and staff offices. Crucially the project guarantees uninterrupted continuity of our services to the Irish public during the construction period.
When completed the new facility seeks to ensure a high level of flexibility in the use of space and to enable greater production capability across existing and emerging platforms. It also seeks to generate substantial energy savings and operating efficiencies and is structured so that facilities can be made available for use by independent media companies and suppliers.
Over the next 10 to 20 years space will begin to become available on the site which it is envisaged has the potential to be developed with multiple partners for a variety of purposes. In particular it is envisaged that the location would be attractive as a cluster of broadcasting and production related companies and other internet technology based enterprises.
RTÉ will make an application for a 10-year planning consent for the new building development on Friday 9 October.
The timing of our application for planning consent has been determined by Dublin City Council’s planned preparation and consideration of a new Dublin City Development plan. This process requires that RTÉ, in common with other major landholders in the city, present its long term observations at this time. For more information on the review of the Dublin City Development Plan please check Dublin City Council's website www.dublincity.ie.
Given the planning process and the current prevailing economic conditions RTÉ does not anticipate that any construction work on the site could start before 2012.