Carlton plans get cautious welcome from councillors

DUBLIN CITY councillors have given a cautious welcome to plans for the development of a new 5.5-acre retail and residential city block centred on the site of the former Carlton cinema on Upper O’Connell Street.

Councillors representing the central area of the city said they were glad an application had finally been made for the site, large parts of which have been derelict for 30 years. Several said they did not believe the plans would be approved by An Bord Pleanála following its decisions on the Arnotts site.

The Carlton plan involves buildings of up to 13 storeys topped by a “park in the sky” reached by a funicular. An Bord Pleanála last month rejected several elements of the “northern quarter” plan for a similar-sized site surrounding Arnotts department store.

The board directed Arnotts to reduce a 16-storey tower to nine storeys and ensure no other building was higher than seven. It also said modern glass facades on O’Connell Street would detract from the “architectural heritage value of this nationally important streetscape”.

While the Carlton development will retain some historic facades, it is substantially a new development and will involve glass frontages, transparent roofs and several modern buildings.

Councillors were presented with the plans for the first time yesterday. While they generally do not have a role in planning, there are parts of the proposed scheme which are in public ownership and cannot be sold to the developers without the sanction of councillors.

Independent councillor Mick Rafferty said his initial reaction to the Carlton plans was positive. However, he said, there should have been an international competition to ensure that the best possible design was used.

“I’d be concerned that we might have just another Dundrum shopping centre plonked in the middle of O’Connell Street, not taking into account the architectural value of the city core.”

Labour councillor Emer Costello said it was tempting to accept any application because the site had been derelict for so long. However, she urged caution.

“I think we lost an opportunity in not having taken this site and the Arnotts site and had a major competition to decide the best plans for this part of the city.”

The council is due to make a decision by June 24th.