O’Connell Street Special Planning Control Scheme

I advocated in an earlier post that West Street in Drogheda could potentially go down the road of introducing a Special Planning Control Scheme. So with that in mind, I thought it might be useful to give a short post on one of the few designated areas in Ireland to have one, O’Connell Street in Dublin. Dublin’s primary Street had got to the stage where it was quickly becoming dominated by fast food outlets, internet cafe’s and casino/entertainment uses. The Special Control Scheme intended to improve the status quo and a real effort has been made to improve the design and overall image of one of Ireland’s most famous streets. Among the objectives were to improve the pedestrian environment on this wide boulevard, improve building uses and promote an appropriate mix, improve linkages to the South of the city and Parnell Street to the North and to improve the overall quality of public space.

To date the street has had footpath’s widened, upgrading of public lighting, planting and street furniture, a new civic plaza designed in front of the GPO and leases for unsuitable uses will not be renewed. The Dublin Spire has been in place since 2003 and other monuments have been restored. It is very much a long term plan that is piecing together nicely over the years. The Architectural Conservation Area designation and Shopfront Guidelines, enforced through the Special Control Scheme will ensure the future sustainability of O’Connell Street. Recent proposals for a major retail development including development of new streets to enhance permeability have been granted planning permission, however it was subject to several conditions that have greatly altered the development and so it is not clear if this proposal will go ahead. Below are some picture’s to illustrate the improvements but also the fact that there is a long way to go with some vacant buildings and unsuitable uses still common for the time being.

Improved urban design is obvious, with paving, new planting, lighting, civic space and the spire all evident here.

Vacancy still evident in Northern part of O’Connell street and as the picture on the right illustrates the pedestrian connectivity to the south of the city and along the quays needs to improve, the car dominant and unwelcoming pedestrian atmosphere is evident from the south.

Although fast food outlets are not necessarily a negative, it has set somewhat of a precedent on O’Conell Street. With 2 McDonald’s, Burger Kings, Supermacs etc all having stores on the street it does give an overall impression of a Street a far cry away from a Primary Street to be envied. Other uses such as internet cafe’s and gambling theaters can all eventually be relocated to surrounding areas and streets aiding an improved image of O’Connell Street. Although some of these uses may well be maintained it is the sheer quantity of lower level services than detracts from what should be a boulevard on a par with those of London or Paris. There is a long way to go but the overall approach and success so far have being very positive. Other Town’s and Cities around Ireland should certainly be keeping a close eye on progress, as O’Connell Street and Dublin City Council are surely setting the example on how to improve on the aesthetics of a street and raising the bar in new approaches to urban design, that has all too often lacked imagination in Ireland.