Guinness Quarter Update

Plans have been approved by Dublin City Council for a major redevelopment of the historic St James’s Gate brewery. The masterplan for over 12 acres of now disused brewery lands was contained in an application for planning permission submitted by Ballymore, the development partner of Diageo, in July 2022.

The area bounded by James Street to the north and Market Street South and Belview to the south, will be transformed into Dublin’s first Zero Carbon District, comprising new residential, commercial and leisure uses all set within over 2 acres of new public spaces and pedestrians streets.

Sitting alongside the Guinness Storehouse, the new district will include:

• 336 residential units, of which 20% will be social housing managed by The Iveagh Trust
• A new 300-seater performance space
• A market and foodhall, showcasing the best of Irish craft and produce, located off a new central public space
• A hotel, developed within the Victorian-era buildings along James Street
• A wide range of commercial, retail and community spaces, complementing the nearby GEC Guinness Enterprise Centre.

The masterplan introduces more than two acres of public outdoor spaces, all landscaped to create pockets of greenery to surprise and delight. The largest of these spaces is a versatile public square for people to gather and socialise. New streets will connect through to the surrounding area, ‘opening the gates’ of St James’s Brewery and integrating with the neighbourhood through sustainable walking and cycling routes.

The masterplan retains the site’s industrial heritage with the refurbishment, repurposing, and extension of heritage structures. Many of its most important features such as the iconic St James’s Gate, No 1 Thomas Street (which was originally the home of Arthur Guinness) and the early Brewhouses 1 and 2 will be restored and repurposed. A planning application is already under consideration to redevelop Brewhouse 2 into a new corporate headquarters for Diageo in Ireland.

With an ambition to be the city’s first Zero Carbon District, the masterplan features sustainable urban design at its best, with elements of contemporary architecture and urban design that complement and respect the site’s industrial heritage, set within attractive and walkable streets and public spaces.

The overall masterplan was developed by Faulker Brown Architects, while a variety of architectural practices combined to develop elements of the scheme, giving different buildings within the area distinctiveness and character.

Commenting at the unveiling of the masterplan, a spokesperson for Ballymore said “working with Diageo, we have developed a plan that brings this vision to life by creating a seamless union of residential living, community, entrepreneurship, creativity, sustainability, commerce, culture, and public space, while retaining the site’s unique built heritage, complemented by the very best of carefully considered architecture and urban design.”

“Our vision and plan is that once complete, the Guinness Quarter will be among the finest examples of sustainability and urban development, embracing the community, cultural, social, and industrial legacy of this part of Dublin. Conscious that the site is such an intrinsic part of the history of the area, Ballymore is honoured to be a custodian of this project.”

A planning application for Guinness Quarter is available to view on www.dublincity.ie. Planning reference 4588/22.