On March 5, 2021, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, announced €430 million in funding for eight regeneration projects in Dublin, Ireland.
The projects are being funded under “Call 2” of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). The URDF part-funds projects aimed at enhancing urban areas to make them more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest. Dublin’s four local authorities, which will deliver these multi-annual projects, will receive this funding.
The eight projects for which URDF support has been approved are:
- North Inner City Concept Area 1 (Dublin City Council) – €121.3 million
- South Inner City Concept Area 2 (Dublin City Council) – €53 million
- Cherrywood Public Access, Permeability and Amenity (Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council) – €40.4 million
- Dundrum Community, Cultural and Civic Hub (Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council) – €4 million
- Balbriggan Rejuvenation (Fingal County Council) – €25.4 million
- Dunsink Feasibility Study – Transportation and Surface Water Assessments (Fingal County Council) – €41,250
- Clonburris – supplementary strategic infrastructure for the Strategic Development Zone (South Dublin County Council) – €176.6 million
- Adamstown – supplementary strategic infrastructure for the Strategic Development Zone (South Dublin County Council) – €9.7 million
The Department will now contact the local authorities on the next steps regarding funding. The projects announced today will augment the existing pipeline of 87 URDF-supported projects for which just under €300 million has been allocated. Details of the provisional funding allocations for URDF projects in the eight other Project Ireland 2040 investment regions will be announced in the coming weeks.
All selected projects support the National Planning Framework’s ‘national strategic outcome’ of compact growth, a particular focus of the second call for URDF proposals. The URDF aims to facilitate a greater proportion of residential and commercial development, supported by infrastructure, services and amenities, within the existing built-up areas of larger urban settlements.
Announcing the provisional allocations this morning, Minister O’Brien said, “This funding will support projects that will enhance the quality of life for many people. The projects are all about making these areas more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest. In that context, this funding will be a catalyst for regeneration, development and growth. The funding I am announcing today will also provide much-needed economic stimulus and job creation as our economy emerges from the depths of the pandemic.”
He added, “Compact growth was the focus of this round of URDF funding. The projects the Government is funding are geared towards sustainable growth of our urban settlements, supported by jobs, houses, services and amenities, as envisaged by the National Planning Framework. As well as compact growth, the fund supports our other national planning aims. In that sense the URDF is a unique approach to Government funding. Whilst many Government-funded programmes are for specific types of projects, the URDF funds a diverse set of integrated projects with integrated aims. I look forward to working with the four Dublin local authorities to progress these projects.”
The projects were chosen after a rigorous assessment process, overseen by a project advisory board consisting of Government departments, State agencies and national and international experts in areas such as building, architecture and planning. In total, the department received 76 project proposals. Each local authority submitted at least one application. Today’s announcement honours the Programme for Government commitment to continue the URDF.
Dublin City Council projects
The €174.30 million in approved funding for the projects below is in addition to eight projects with approved URDF funding totalling €15.78 million under ‘Call 1’.
Total URDF funding approved to date: €190.08 million
North Inner City Concept Area 1 (Dublin City Council) – €121.3 million
This project involves the regeneration and redevelopment of several areas that have suffered from dereliction and decline over a number of years. The main objective is to achieve long-term sustainable regeneration around the redevelopment of the Fruit and Vegetable Market, Smithfield, and the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter through a number of complementary projects:
- Markets and Public Realm Study and works, including a Public Realm Masterplan. The Masterplan and works include the pedestrianisation of streets, creation of public spaces, greening and cycle routes.
- Broadstone to Grand Canal – development of a pedestrian and cycle route.
- Site assembly in a number of areas.
- Parnell Square Public Realm works to create a civic space to link the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter buildings, which will involve the construction of a new city library.
- Mountjoy Square Construction project, which consists of a number of restoration measures and refurbishment of the existing community building.
- 41 Parnell Square – acquisition and refurbishment of a protected structure.
- Five Lamps Public Realm works, involving improvements to public lighting, street paving, street art and furniture.
- Moore Street Public Realm Renewal works to include lighting, public art, paving, stalls, signage to reactivate one of the most important trading streets in the city.
- 14-17 Moore Street – structural and restoration works to 4 houses to facilitate the reuse of these historic buildings to create an iconic visitor attraction and rejuvenation of a historic street.
South Inner City Concept Area 2 (Dublin City Council) – €53 million
This project aims to consolidate urban development and link several strategic areas of the south city through the delivery of a number of complementary environmental, planning, mobility and transport projects:
- Liberties Greening Strategy – development of new green spaces and enhancement of streets and civic spaces.
- Francis Street Environmental Improvement Scheme – Redesign of Francis Street to provide a pedestrian-friendly environment.
- Newmarket Square Environmental Improvement Scheme – redesign and improvement of public square and adjacent streets.
- Dolphin’s Barn Environmental Improvement Scheme – upgrade of public realm and park provision for Dolphins Barn Village.
- Cork Street Environmental Improvement Scheme – Public realm improvement plan for Cork Street addressing parking issues and opportunities for site consolidation.
- Meath Street Environmental Improvement Scheme – Public Realm improvement scheme.
- Strategic site assembly in a number of areas to enable the development of a masterplan.
- Public Lighting Upgrade – upgrade existing lighting to LED lighting in various locations.
- Grangegorman to Kevin St Public and Pedestrian Route – new pedestrian and cycle link.
- Ringsend Project – Library Square and Public Realm works, road reconstruction and upgrade for Sean Moore Roundabout and Cambridge Road and redevelopment of Ringsend Park.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council projects
The €44.36 million in approved funding for the projects below is in addition to four projects with approved URDF funding totalling €21.15 million under ‘Call 1’.
Total URDF funding to date: €65.51 million
Cherrywood Public Access, Permeability and Amenity (Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council) – €40.4 million
This project consists of transport and public realm projects. It aims to create a safe, friendly environment where people can live, work and play with the benefits of sustainable, integrated transport. It aims to transform the area and create a compact, mixed-use and rail-based community, underpinned by the principles of quality urban design and development, and place-making. This project, when delivered, will cohere with the infrastructure investment already in place and with the Cherrywood project approved under ‘Call 1’.
The infrastructure being provided under ‘Call 2’ consists of the following:
- Castle Street Link – completion of Cherrywood’s bus priority route to connect it to the existing Park & Ride facility at Carrickmines Luas stop.
- Ticknick Park – Ballycorus Access – development of cycle, pedestrian and vehicle access to Ticknick Park.
- Town Centre Pedestrian & Cycle Link – development of an elevated pedestrian and cycle bridge within the Cherrywood Town Centre.
- 3 Public Parks – creation of centrally located, multi-functional spaces providing a focal area for each of the associated village communities.
- Smart Parking Study – research and application of measures to create efficiencies in Cherrywood’s required parking provision.
- Beckett Link (& Barrington Rd Connection) – development of pedestrian, cycle and vehicle link from the Kilternan Link to the Cherrywood Town Centre, to include the uncompleted portion of Barrington’s Road.
Dundrum Community, Cultural and Civic Hub (Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council) – €4 million
This URDF funding will support:
- Enhanced public realm improvement works to North end of Dundrum (Library/bridge area)
- A renewed masterplan strategy (Design/feasibility) for all of Dundrum. It will include a review of the location/integrated design for a community hub project (based on a revised wider strategic plan called the Community, Cultural and Civic Action Plan). The Community, Cultural and Civic Action Plan is funded under ‘Call 1’ of the URDF.
Fingal County Council projects
The €25.48 million in approved funding for the projects below is in to two projects with approved URDF funding totalling €2.5 million under ‘Call 1’.
Total approved funding to date: €27.98 million .
Balbriggan Rejuvenation (Fingal County Council) – €25.4 million
The Balbriggan Rejuvenation project involves the significant enabling of existing assets – centred around its public realm, coastal and architectural character, underutilised brownfield sites – by harnessing economic and development opportunities through:
- Strategic site assembly and transformation of a number of key strategic areas in Balbriggan
- Public realm schemes to increase use of amenities and to create safe recreational facilities along the shoreline and park along the River Bracken in Quay Street
- A reimagined Harbour experience to provide a highly accessible public realm amenity space, including a new recreational/community building and better connectivity to the beach and the rejuvenated Quay Street
- Establishing a new ‘Green Corridor’ involving landscaping to improve visibility and access to the river, pathways and planting through Millpond Park in the town centre, down to a transformed Quay Street, flowing into the Viaduct area with a refurbished boathouse and reimagined Harbour
- Promenade and coastal improvements, including significant expansion of walkways and cycleways connecting the town centre and Bremore Castle and Ardgillan Castle
Dunsink Feasibility Study – Transportation and Surface Water Assessments (Fingal County Council) – €41,250
This project will involve transport and surface water feasibility studies relating to the strategic land bank at Dunsink. These are required to facilitate the future sustainable development of the lands. The studies include:
- Area-Based Transport Assessment: the aim is to incorporate national and regional transport policies and objectives into the local-level land use plan. This is to ensure integrated land use and transport policies are considered, with an emphasis on delivering sustainable travel solutions.
- Surface Water Management Plan – the plan aims to include both a flood risk assessment and a sustainable drainage strategy.
South Dublin County Council
The €186.32 million in approved funding for the projects below is in addition to eight projects with approved URDF funding totalling €32.09 million under ‘Call 1’.
Total approved funding to date: €218.41 million
Clonburris – supplementary strategic infrastructure for the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) (South Dublin County Council) – €176.6 million
Clonburris is an SDZ on one of the most strategically important land banks in the State. URDF support for the Clonburris proposal will act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration and development of one of Ireland’s largest underutilised sites, the wider South Dublin area and the Dublin region at large. The project will involve the provision of critical supplementary strategic infrastructure that will be essential to the appropriate, further development of this unique and complex site. Infrastructure will include:
- New link roads
- Utility corridors
- Bridges
- Pumping stations
- Public parks
- Regional attenuation ponds
- Community centres
Adamstown – supplementary strategic infrastructure for the Strategic Development Zone (South Dublin County Council) – €9.7 million
This project will deliver key elements of supplementary strategic infrastructure in the SDZ Planning Scheme. The infrastructure will facilitate the development of the Adamstown town centre element of the SDZ lands and the continued roll-out of suitably located and scaled housing. This project will deliver the following supplementary, strategic town centre infrastructure:
- Central Boulevard Park
- Construction of a civic/library building fronting onto the district/town centre plaza/square
- Construction of a district/town centre plaza/square
Photo of Balbriggan Harbour via Balbriggan Council.