Docklands Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) for the City is launched
Dublin City Council will officially launch The North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock Planning Scheme on Wednesday 10th December at 11am at the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Offices at Custom House Quay, Dublin 1. The scheme was adopted by Dublin City Council in November 2013 and approved by An Bord Pleanala on 16th May 2014. Councillor Paddy Bourke, representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin, officially launched the scheme.
The publication marks the beginning of a new process of implementation of the Docklands Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) Scheme for the City, and a new era of investment and development in the Docklands area. The fast track planning for the Docklands (SDZ) has already seen the lodgement of its first major planning application at the Bolands Mill site with a decision due on this application in February 2015.
The Docklands SDZ is recognised as an area which is of city, region and national economic and social importance, not least due to the pro-active role the most significant land holder, NAMA, will play in its delivery.
Circa 22 Hectares are available for development in the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock Scheme, an area roughly equivalent in scale to the entire Custom House Docks / IFSC Area. Under the scheme, the floorspace to be delivered amounts to almost 2,600 residential units and about 305,000 – 366,000 square metres of commercial floorspace. This potential would deliver an additional residential population of 5,800 and employment of 23,000 people.
This planning scheme under the Docklands SDZ seeks to meet the future needs of the City, by creating a vibrant living urban quarter and an economic cluster, capable of competing on an international level. The Docklands area has the potential to support real economic recovery and provide for a critical mass of development; to foster investment and innovation and sustain the growth of key sectors, such as financial services and the services economy.
This scheme provides a clear blueprint for new development, by requiring each major site to provide a mix of commercial and housing plus a range of services, new public spaces, parks and community and arts facilities. This mix of uses is key to the vision of the Docklands SDZ.
Dublin City Council, as the designated Development Agency for the SDZ, has already commenced work on essential elements to the success of the Scheme. A new unit of Dublin City Council is now on the ground in Docklands delivering the SDZ and working with all key stakeholders and community leaders. A community audit has commenced, in relation to a new public realm strategy for the district and for preparatory designs for key new bridges.
