Update on the New Guinness Quarter

Ballymore, the development partner of Diageo Ireland for its proposed Guinness Quarter, have released the latest details of their planned regeneration of the former St James’s Gate Brewery lands to the south of James Street in The Liberties.

The update follows a wide-ranging community engagement on the proposals, which seek to transform the 12 acre site into a new mixed-use neighbourhood of residential, commercial and leisure uses. The engagement included reaching out to over 120 local community groups, public representatives, local businesses, and other stakeholders.

The development team have refined the Guinness Quarter Masterplan to incorporate some of the suggestions and feedback from the community. The main features and elements that have been included in the masterplan include:

• Dedicated community spaces.
• Multipurpose events space.
• Mix of private, social, and rental homes.
• A mix of small, medium, and larger size retail space.
• Open and accessible street access, fully integrated into the wider Liberties area.
• Green public spaces.
• Priority access for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the site.
• Building design that complements and enhances the area’s existing architecture

A New City Neighbourhood

Guinness Quarter is intended to be highly sustainable, including being Dublin’s first zero carbon district. The ambition is to create a low traffic neighbourhood, that maximises opportunities to walk and cycle and that integrates and connects seamlessly to the wider area through a networks of new and existing streets and public spaces. New entrances to the district are planned at Crane Street and James Street, while Market Street South and Grand Canal Place will become more permeable.

The masterplan proposed over 2 acres of publicly-accessible open space, including an animated public square that will act as a focal point for the Quarter. New community, arts and leisure spaces are proposed.

Guinness Quarter will feature social homes, homes to buy and homes to rent, and Ballymore is teaming with The Iveagh Trust to develop and manage the social housing element of the scheme. Student housing will not form part of the development.

A range of retail and workspaces are proposed, creating new business opportunities in the district. Diageo Ireland will develop its new corporate HQ in the former Brewhouse 2 on the site, while a new hotel is proposed for the historic Front Offices along James Street. The Guinness Storehouse will remain on site and be complemented by a new multi purpose events space.

Heritage buildings on site will be retained and repurposed, while new architecture will weave into the district.

Next Steps

A planning application has now been submitted to Dublin City Council to redevelop Brewhouse 2 at St James’s Gate to new corporate offices for Diageo in Ireland. The building, which will retain and incorporate the historic facades of the 19thC brewhouse, will facilitate the wider redevelopment of the Quarter. Its expected that, subject to receiving planning approval, the development will take 3 years to construct.

The Guinness Quarter Masterplan will be finalised over the coming months before submission to Dublin City Council with planning applications expected to follow later in the year. Guinness Quarter is a major, long-term development project, which is expected will take 10 years to complete.

Information provided by www.ballymoregroup.com