13.10 - SDRA 8 – Grangegorman/Broadstone
Introduction
In April 2002, the government made the decision that a new consolidated TU Dublin campus would be developed at Grangegorman, complemented with new healthcare facilities, and integrated into the city fabric. A Planning Scheme for Grangegorman was approved by An Bord Pleanála in July 2012 as a Strategic Development Zone.
This significant re-development project (c. 30 hectares) is managed by the Grangegorman Development Agency, whose role it is to deliver a modern campus for Technology University Dublin (TU Dublin), to provide the Health Service Executive with upgraded primary health and social care facilities and to provide other facilities including a new school and sports grounds for the benefit of the community. Overall objectives for creating connections, urban form, campus nodes, landscaping etc. are set out in detail in the SDZ Planning Scheme.
Implementation of the SDZ is on-going. The first public element delivered was the Phoenix Care Centre which was officially opened in February 2013 and provides a replacement mental health facility for St. Brendan’s Hospital, on the North Circular Road. Key large-scale site infrastructure and public realm works have also been carried out, and the TU Dublin campus opened its doors to the first 1,000 students in September 2014.
The construction of a c. 4,414 m2 Greenway Hub building, a c.16,000m2 East Quad and a c.33,000m2 Central Quad is now complete, accommodating academic activities and facilities required for the Environmental Health Sciences Institute and business incubation space, the College of Arts & Tourism, College of Sciences & Health and College of Engineering and Built Environment. It is anticipated that the TU Dublin developments will provide capacity for a student population of c.15,000 by 2024. The repurposing of TU Dublin’s Park House continues. It now occupied by c. 10,000 sq. m. of temporary university library and office space.
Other key elements delivered include all-weather GAA, rugby and soccer pitches along with a new playground for local children, a new link from Broadstone Plaza and the first phase of a new site energy centre. A further project delivered in the short term is the HSE new primary care centre (located in the Old Laundry Building).
The Lower House, formerly the Richmond Lunatic Asylum is now open to c. 4,335m2 of development that includes music practice rooms, student union offices, a restaurant and coffee shop, some sport and recreation activities (exercise studios, dance studio) and general student support services.
It is currently anticipated that by 2025, a c. 100 bed Residential Care Neighbourhood for the elderly, and for those with a mental health support need will be delivered. Within this timeframe, it is also anticipated that a new 24 Classroom Educate Together National School will be in service, replacing a current temporary facility. Construction has commenced on the Academic Hub and Library, which includes the restoration of the North House (which is on the RPS) and will be 19,000sq.m. when due for completion in 2024.
When complete, the SDZ will comprise c.380,000 sq. m. of repurposed and new buildings. Ultimately, the TU Dublin population on site will amount to c.25,000 people, comprising c.20,000 full time students, c.2,500 part time students and c.2,500 staff.
The guiding principles for this area are captured by the overall vision for Grangegorman set out in the SDZ Planning Scheme and are as follows:
- The Planning Scheme will create a vibrant, high-quality and legible urban quarter, with a clear sense of place.
- Deliver the requirements of the HSE, Department of Education and TU Dublin in an integrated fashion.
- Respect and celebrate the heritage of Grangegorman.
- Reach out to and embrace the existing local community and the future students, service users and staff of Grangegorman.
- Sustainability is a core requirement and the quarter must be both responsive to its current context and development needs, and adaptable to its future context and development needs.
- The quarter will be a centre for innovation and creativity.
- Contribute to the regeneration of the inner city.
- Provide a dynamic new economic engine for the city and region.
The continued implementation of the Grangegorman SDZ is expected and encouraged throughout the life of the development plan. The Guiding Principles Map as set out in Figure 13.8 is for high level illustrative purposes only. All future development should be in accordance with the Grangegorman SDZ Planning Scheme
Broadstone is currently a transport hub catering for Dublin Bus maintenance requirements and also maintenance for future vehicle specifications, such as battery electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles if required. Whilst there is no proposed re-development of this site at present, it is recognised that these lands have significant potential if some or all of the existing use were to relocate. Where re-development proposals are considered for the site, a Masterplan shall be prepared having regards to the constraints, strengths and opportunities of the site. Any such masterplan must be sensitive to the significant built heritage of the lands and the historic urban context surrounding the lands. In this context, there is potential for 2/3 locally higher buildings. Development should seek to deliver sensitively designed and sited compact growth with appropriate range of community and recreational spaces.
Prussia Street is located on the western side of the SDRA linking Stoneybatter Village to North Circular Road. This key thoroughfare provides for significant strategic development opportunities through the regeneration of a number of vacant and underutilised sites for mixed use development. Future development in the area shall provide for a coherent and considered streetscape that respects the existing historic character whilst at the same time ensuring an appropriate scale and density is achieved in line with the 15 minute city objective.
A Masterplan shall be prepared for the area that sets out a clear development strategy including the provision of new permeability routes linking to the wider Grangegorman Campus, a vibrant and active streetscape and the provision of local services and amenities. All developments will be assessed on a case by case in the context of Appendix 3 and the relevant development standards.
Figure 13-11: SDRA 8 Grangegorman/Broadstone
