A Plan for The Liberties

Dublin City Council has just published its draft City Development Plan for 2022 – 2028.

City and County Development Plans guide the development of the functional areas of local authorities and provide policies across a wide range of topics such as transportation, heritage protection, open spaces and amenities, retail and community life. Local authorities are required to make a new development plan every 6 years and the recently published draft Dublin City Development Plan is the second stage of the current process. The draft is now subject to public comment and submissions until 14th February 2022, and a new plan, with amendments, is adopted later in the year.

The City Development Plan includes a wider range of policies that are relevant to The Liberties. Most importantly, The Liberties is designated a Strategic Development & Regeneration Area (No 15). Under this new plan, there are a range of updated objectives, proposals and ambitions for The Liberties and Newmarket to continue the process of renewal and regeneration of recent years.

Among the objectives or ‘guiding principles’ of the SDRA are:

• To support the regeneration and reopening of the Iveagh Markets and recognise the historic and cultural importance of its existence.
• To support the delivery of the Liberties Creative Cluster and other initiatives to strengthen the arts within the Liberties.
• To support the use of Newmarket Square for market trading and other beneficial public uses including as appropriate, works to enhance universal access, the pedestrian environment and public realm.
• To deliver a civic hub as part of the regeneration of the Pimlico flat complex.
• To support the provisions of the Smart D8 project in relation to the provision of a Healthcare Innovation Corridor.
• To undertake a public realm study for the Vicar St. area to enhance the amenity and character of the Molyneux Lane, Swift’s Alley and Vicar St. area. This will also create a more cohesive relationship between the Meath St. and Francis St. areas.

There is guidance on heights in the area, the preservation and creation of open space and the revitalisation of streets.

The SDRA also identifies 9 Opportunity Sites around The Liberties and Newmarket, areas which are likely to see redevelopment in coming years. These include the large Diageo holdings either side of James Street, the so-called Guinness Quarter, and the Digital Hub lands stretching from School Street to Bonham Street.

Elsewhere in the draft City Development Plan there are objectives to create new Architectural Conservation Areas at Ceannt Fort, The Tenters and Bru Chaomhin and the adjacent Quaker site.

The draft plan is now on display and available to read online at www.dublincitydevelopmentplan.ie. Submissions by the public are welcomed and can be made easily by using the links at the bottom of each chapter. The consultation process continues until 14th February 2022.