The Heritage Council has intervened in the planning row over the revised €100m part-demolition and rejuvenation of the St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre and called on the City Council to refuse planning permission.
In an objection against the scheme, Head of Conservation at the Heritage Council, Ian Doyle has told the council that "The Heritage Council cannot support the proposal and recommend refusal".
Mr Doyle says that it is important to view St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre "as an iconic 20th century building of architectural interest and as a landmark building".
As part of a four page submission, Mr Doyle states that in general terms the Heritage Council "is not convinced that the proposed 'rejuvenation' of the shopping centre will have a positive impact on the historic streetscape of this part of Dublin".
Mr Doyle states that the removal of the distinctive and prominent façade of the shopping centre will undermine the established relationships between the buildings and spaces, both designated and non-designated in the vicinity of St Stephen's Green.
The Heritage Council is a State agency and part of its remit is to make submissions on planning applications that impact on Ireland's built, cultural or natural heritage.
Under the heading of 'Landmark Status', Mr Doyle states that it is important to recognise that the current shopping centre, by virtue of a recognisable and iconic design, is now an established part of the streetscape in this part of Dublin, irrespective of any varying perceptions of the building's architectural merit.
Mr Doyle states that the building’s contribution to 'place' is not modest but has been ingrained in people's perception of this area of Dublin City Centre.
He said that its recognisability is derived from its distinctive form and decorative detailing, as well as its position, when viewed from key approach streets.
Mr Doyle said that it is within this context that "the removal of the existing façade at Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre and replacement with new elevational treatments is the primary concern for the Heritage Council".
He said that there appears to be little to no mention of the potential cumulative impacts that the proposal would have when viewed alongside other developments, including the Metro station construction, on the National Monument at St Stephen’s Green, which may not be able to absorb such cumulative change in its immediate surroundings.
Mr Doyle said that the Heritage Council considers this unsatisfactory and therefore suggest noncompliance with City Council Policy which caters for Conservation Areas, of which the National Monument of Saint Stephen's Green is one.
In total, the council has received 59 submissions with the bulk of those opposed to the application. The Heritage Council did not make a submission on the original DTDL Ltd planning application lodged in January 2023.
In December, the owners of the centre, DTDL Ltd, lodged revised plans for the redevelopment of the landmark shopping centre five months after An Coimiúsin Pleanála refused planning permission for its €100m revamp.
The designers of the scheme state that the revised proposal will make an enduring contribution to the city's built environment, setting a new benchmark for brownfield regeneration in the heart of Dublin through its "exemplar standard of urban design".
The newly designed scheme through the BKD Architects/O’Donnell + Tuomey collaboration will have capacity to accommodate 3,000 office workers while the retail floor area at basement, ground and first floor levels will be 19,001 square metres.
In a blow, however, to the revised rejuvenation scheme two of three parties, An Taisce and author and former Irish Times journalist Frank McDonald, who successfully appealed to An Coimisúin Pleanála Dublin City Council’s grant of permission in December 2023 to the original €100m scheme, have outlined their opposition to the new plan in comprehensive submissions.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
