Plans revealed for pedestrianised College Green plaza in Dublin city centre
The sweeping changes include extensive greening and seating, two major water features, and a large paved events space in front of Trinity College.Early sketches for the space were revealed in June last year, but Dublin City Council (DCC) have refined them on foot of two rounds of public consultation and more than 2,800 written submissions.This has resulted in changes such as the civic space beside Trinity College being made more open, and improvements to the legibility of access routes for those with visual or other impairments.The entire space between Trinity College and the junction of South Great George’s Street/Dame Street is to become pedestrianised under the plans, with emergency vehicle access via the western end of the plaza.Large green areas will stretch from South Great George's Street to the Bank of Ireland buildingA new cycle route will run along the southern edge of Dame Street, before crossing north at the Bank of Ireland building and following a similar line to the existing cycle lane. Pedestrian crossing points for the cycle corridor will be dotted throughout the plaza.A patchwork of green spaces, incorporating 75 new trees, several lawns and extensive planting, connect the space between the Bank of Ireland building and South Great George’s Street.The updated design is broader in scope than previous plaza plansExtensive seating and a play space are also part of the project, with the council promising “an environment that encourages people to stop, relax and connect with the city around them.”Sustainable drainage solutions are another major consideration for the scheme, with rain gardens and underground water storage combining to retain and slow the effects of rainfall in the city centre.However, public toilets are not part of the plans, despite council officials previously indicating that they would be incorporated into the plaza as designs develop.Dublin’s Lord Mayor Ray McAdam said the project would “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.”He said it would create “a high-quality public realm that can accommodate everyday activity and major cultural events, while staying safe, legible and welcoming from morning to night.”DCC’s chief executive, Richard Shakespeare, said the plaza would “transform how people experience the heart of the city”.“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,” he added.The planning application for the project is set to be lodged at some point this year, with construction slated for around October/November 2027.Construction is set to cost up to €80m, including a 40pc contingency, and is hoped to be complete in 2030.It emerged recently that a necessary precursor to the plaza, the National Transport Authority’s redesign of the bus network, has now been delayed until next year.However, council officials are confident it will be in place by the time the project receives planning permission.DCC have put the plans out for one final public consultation, with Dubliners encouraged to contribute their thoughts here until March 11.Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
