Dublin City Council share the Pre-Planning Design for ‘Grow College Green’

Dublin City Council has today published the pre-planning design for ‘Grow College Green’, the flagship project to reimagine the historic centre of Dublin City, creating a new space that is a destination for everyone. The vision is that it will not only be a place to shop, work, gather and celebrate, but also a space to pause, breathe and connect.

Now open for consultation until 11 March 2026 on Engage.ie, the updated design has been shaped and informed by an extensive programme of engagement that began in August 2024. This has included two rounds of non-statutory consultation, over 2,800 written submissions and more than 100 in-person engagement moments. These have ranged from one-to-one meetings with a wide range of stakeholders, public drop-in events and sessions with local businesses, to a Family Fun Day and walkabouts with Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs).  

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam said, “Grow College Green is an exciting step in celebrating Dublin, not just our history, but the living, working, evolving city we are today. This project will reimagine one of our most iconic spaces as a destination for everyone, somewhere you can walk through easily, meet friends, sit in the sunshine, enjoy the buzz of the city, or simply take a breath in the middle of a busy day. 

Crucially, the updated design reflects real engagement, thousands of submissions and face to face conversations, and I welcome the clear commitment to making College Green inclusive and accessible, with the input of Disabled Persons Organisations helping to shape what welcome and usable really mean in practice. 

Working with the National Transport Authority, Dublin City Council is setting out a vision for a high-quality public realm that can accommodate everyday activity and major cultural events, while staying safe, legible and welcoming from morning to night. I encourage Dubliners, commuters, businesses and visitors to engage with the consultation on Engage.ie, because the best city-making happens when people help shape the places they use and love.” 

Throughout this process, the ‘Grow College Green’ Design Team has answered questions and, importantly, listened to the views, feedback and ideas shared. The updated design reflects this valuable input, with insights from every stage of engagement helping to guide and refine the design.  

Delivered in partnership with the National Transport Authority (NTA), the design supports the creation of a high-quality public realm, capable of accommodating everyday activity, cultural events and social interaction, while also providing moments of calm within the pace of daily city life. At its core, the design is built around what people have told us they want from the heart of their city: a world-class space that is enjoyable to spend time in, easy to move through, and stays vibrant and welcoming from morning to night. 

Speaking about the publication of the updated design, Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, said, "The pre-planning design for ‘Grow College Green’ represents a significant step forward in reimagining one of Dublin’s most historic and important public spaces. From the outset, our ambition has been to create a city centre that works better for everyone, a place that is safer, greener, and more accessible, a space that feels good to spend time in. 

Informed by users of the city, this project will transform how people experience the heart of the city. It will deliver wider, clearer and more legible routes for moving through the area, linking the north and south of the city centre along the civic spine; greener, more tranquil spaces to spend time; and a setting that supports everything from everyday activity to cultural events and major civic moments. By opening up views to our landmark buildings and weaving in the textures and stories of the past, the design will restore a real sense of importance to this historic location. 

The design we are now sharing reflects the feedback we have received from businesses, people who work in the area, residents, students, DPOs, community groups and visitors. We are asking the public to share their views for the last time on this exciting ‘Grow College Green’ project. The input we receive during this consultation will directly influence the design that we submit for planning and will ensure that this space truly serves the city for decades to come.” 

The redesigned space will become a lively, pedestrian priority area where residents, workers, students and visitors can meet friends, enjoy events or simply take in the city’s landmarks in a safer, more comfortable setting. The area will feel different depending on the rhythm of the day, peaceful and inviting at quieter moments to colourful and energetic when hosting performances, cultural activity or major civic events. Transformed from the currently noisy, cluttered, traffic dominated space. 

Sustainability and climate resilience form the foundation of this design, with more trees, shade, planting, safe cycle routes and high-quality sustainable materials supporting Dublin’s climate goals and creating a public realm that is both vibrant now and resilient into the future. 

Greener edges, climate resilient planting, comfortable seating and nature-based drainage solutions will all help create a healthier, more resilient city centre. Improved views of landmark buildings, including Trinity College and the Bank of Ireland, will restore the sense of arrival and identity long associated with this important civic space. 

Councillor Janet Horner, Chairperson, Dublin City Council Mobility and Public Realm Strategic Policy Committee, said, “This is an incredibly exciting moment for the ‘Grow College Green’ project, as the updated designs are shared with the public. I hope as many people as possible will take part in this consultation as their feedback will play a vital role in shaping a city space that everyone can feel proud of.” 

The updated design, together with detailed plans, visualisations and supporting materials, is available to view online at Engage.ie. Dublin City Council is now inviting public feedback, which will help inform the final design ahead of submission for statutory planning permission later this year. Submissions will be accepted until midnight on 11 March 2026. 

***To access a press pack including images please click link below*** 

https://dublincity.sharefile.eu/public/share/web-s77a9dd4c19304672b1fc0dc551fbca86  

ENDS