C2CC Project: Trees

The benefits of the Clontarf to City Centre Project are substantial, and will be transformative for the area. In addition to providing segregated cycling facilities, priority bus lanes, and improvements in pedestrian safety, the Clontarf to City Centre Project includes significant urban realm improvement works. All pavements along the route will be reconstructed, eight new community plazas will be created, and new tree planting and soft landscaping will contribute to improved greening throughout the area. 114 new trees will be planted along the route and planted bio-retention areas will be installed for improved surface-water management.

During the consultation process at Part 8 application stage, concerns for the protection and retention of the mature trees along the route were expressed. These were taken on board and the scheme was redesigned so as to retain as many trees as possible. Other requirements were also expressed at consultation stage, for example the need to provide improved protection to cyclists at junctions and in the vicinity of bus stops. During the complex detailed design stage, it was possible to amend the design so that 41 of the trees identified for removal no longer needed to be removed. However, 44 other trees were identified as required to be removed to ensure that other design requirements could be met. This means that there will be a net increase of 70 trees along the route as a result of the project.   

The scheme has been designed with a long-term vision of the area in mind. A number of the trees being removed now would have needed to be removed in the coming years for safety reasons. Some were removed before the project proceeded to construction, because of disease or damage due to storms. Once the new trees are established along the route, the short-term visual effect of removing some of the existing trees will be reversed. Large structural tree pits have been incorporated into the design to allow new trees to flourish while also protecting the footpaths and underground services.

The document below provides detailed information on the trees to be retained, removed and planted on the Clontarf to City Centre Project.