11.1.4 The Strategic Approach

In accordance with the core strategy, Dublin City Council will take the following approach to protecting and enhancing the city’s built heritage:

1. The existing conservation policy framework is comprised of the Record of Protected Structures with in excess of 8,500 entries, 21 Architectural Conservation Areas and a significant number of Conservation Areas and Conservation Zoning Objective Areas, it is considered to be sufficiently robust at present. However, in order to ensure the policy framework is comprehensively updated in accordance with the relevant planning legislation, guidelines and the recent recommendations from the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and so that all areas and structures of special historic and architectural interest have the appropriate legal protection measures applied, Dublin City Council will undertake the following, phased survey and review, area based approach, to protecting and enhancing the city’s built heritage.

2. The survey and review will be conducted outwards from the historic core and will focus on 10 phase one priority areas, which are set out below. The rationale for selection is that these are areas within the historic core that have high concentrations of protected structures but are presently sited outside designated Architectural Conservation Areas:

(i). The medieval/walled city – centred on Christchurch

(ii). Temple Bar – including section of the Liffey Quays

(iii). Dame Street – including Dublin Castle and College Green (including Trinity College)

(iv). Merrion Square – including Government Buildings and Mount Street (Upper and Lower)

(v). St Stephen’s Green – including Harcourt Street and Leeson Street Lower

(vi). Parnell Square (O’Connell Street Upper) – including Frederick Street North and Moore Street area 

(vii). Henrietta Street – including King’s Inns

(viii). North Great George’s Street – including Denmark Street, Temple Street and Gardiner Place

(ix). Custom House Quay – including Beresford Place and Gardiner Street Lower

(x). Aungier Street.

By way of explanation, the evolution and development of Dublin City and the heritage significance of its historic core dictates that the areas to be considered for the designation of ACA’s shall be prioritised firstly in the historic core and the Georgian city and radiate outwards into the adjoining 19th century suburbs. The former will comprise the first phase of 10 priority areas as identified above.

As the work on the first phase nears completion, a second phase of areas will be assessed for ACA designation, based on the criteria outlined above, including the following: ­

  • Extension of the Thomas Street ACA ­
  • Pembroke Estate/Rathmines Lower and Upper/Belgrave Square ­
  • Stoneybatter/Oxmanstown/ Arbour Hill ­
  • Ranelagh Village.

The City Council will survey the above priority areas of special historic and architectural interest with a view to:

a) Reviewing the Record of Protected Structures

b) Reviewing the recommendations of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage

c) Reviewing conservation zoning objectives

d) Reviewing non-statutory conservation designations

e) Designating Architectural Conservation Areas where special interest is identified.

3. The area survey work will form the basis for the continuation of the compilation of the database of Structures and Areas of Special Interest

4. Continuing to implement and build on the success of the Dublin City Heritage Plan

5. Safeguarding Zones of Archaeological Interest

6. The strategic approach to the protection and enhancement of the city’s built heritage shall be guided by the recommendations on the Historic Urban Environment adopted on 10 November 2011 by UNESCO’s General Conference, providing for the historic urban landscape approach that sees urban heritage as a social, cultural and economic asset for the development of cities, with tangible and intangible urban heritage as sources of social cohesion, factors of diversity and drivers of creativity, innovation and urban regeneration.

This approach, shall in turn, guide the City Council, in partnership with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and other stakeholders, in the pursuit of a World Heritage nomination for the Historic City of Dublin. UNESCO’s urban landscape approach will inform the continuing development of a research agenda for architectural heritage in the city, to establish and promote internationally accepted standards of practice in the protection, conservation and management of cultural heritage, including new approaches to the successful management, enhancement and promotion of Dublin’s built heritage, with particular emphasis on the regeneration of the north Georgian core.

This research agenda shall build upon recent European research, initiatives and policies, including Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe (2015), Conclusions on Cultural Heritage as a Strategic Resource for a Sustainable Europe (Council of the European Union, 2014), Communication Towards and Integrated Approach to Cultural Heritage for Europe (European Commission, 2014), Getting Cultural Heritage to Work for Europe (European Commission, 2015) and the EU Council’s Conclusions on a Work Plan for Culture 2015 – 2018 (Council of the European Union, 2014), and shall highlight the significant economic, social and environmental benefits of Dublin’s historic core and its importance as a primary cultural asset, an economic driver and the repository of our identity and sense of place.