INTERNATIONAL DRINKS GIANT Diageo has announced plans to develop an urban quarter at the site of the Guinness brewery in Dublin.

Diageo – which produces Guinness – plans to develop 12.6 acres at St James’s Gate into “one of the most dynamic urban quarters in Ireland and Europe”.

The multinational drinks company said advancements in technology and significant investment meant that it could now brew more beer with less space at the historic brewery.

As a result of this it will transform 12.6 acres of the nearly 50 acre St James’s Gate site, which has been a mainstay of the Dublin city brewing landscape for hundreds of years.

According to Diageo, the new urban development will be called the St James’s Gate Quarter.

Diageo said that it had worked with planning and architectural experts to create a vision that is underpinned by the Dublin City Development Plan and the Liberties Local Area Plan (where the site is located).

The quarter will be a mixed use area with commercial, office and residential space and will be fully integrated into the wider Liberties area. Diageo said there will also be public spaces and streets within the quarter.

It said it is now searching for a development partner to help it create the quarter.

The development will be phased over a long period, and Diageo said it will retain ownership of the iconic St James’s Gate and Arthur Guinness’s residence.

“We are committed to a long-term sustainable future at St James’s Gate and are delighted to be opening streets, creating spaces, and generating opportunity,” said country director for Diageo Ireland Oliver Loomes.