South Dublin County Council is commencing a tender process to secure a partner who can work alongside the council to shape and influence the design of a proposed 20,000 sq ft purpose-built production studio, as well as manage its operations over a long-term contract.
Located at the 12th Lock, Grand Canal, Dublin, adjacent to Grange Castle Business Park, the studio will be one-of a-kind and the space will be highly adaptive to suit those in the TV/film/music recording sectors. Interested parties will be able to put forward proposals relating to the mix of media-related uses of the studio building, how the facility will be operated and demonstrate how the new development will positively contribute to the media sector and the local economy.
With the 12th Lock Studio strategically located at the intersection of Grange Castle Business Park, Clonburris and Adamstown strategic development zones and with Ireland’s largest film studio campus, Dublin Fields, currently at an advanced stage of planning on a neighbouring site, the council is seeking to establish a media cluster of international significance in this part of Dublin. The new cluster will support start-ups, small and mediums size enterprises (SMEs), provide educational opportunities for those studying or working in the media sector and will act as a catalyst for the growth of the indigenous media industry. The 12th Lock Studio will be integral to achieving this and will help foster creativity, economic development and education in the arts and film sector.
Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Baby Pereppadan said “Ireland has an unparalleled opportunity to compete with media production globally. There are a number of large-scale TV [and] media production studios in planning or development stages throughout Ireland and there is significant growth in the sector. South Dublin, with its strategic location, supporting infrastructure, highly skilled labour force and rich history of enterprise, is extremely well placed to create a media cluster of scale that supports jobs growth, economic investment and community development”.
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The studio will be located along the Grand Canal and will form part of a wider 12th Lock master plan to enhance and revitalise the area, with the provision of restaurant, cafe and retail facilities, artists’ studios, childcare facilities, an event space, as well as a new public open space, enhanced public realm and activation of the Grand Canal. Directly adjacent to the Studio site, development is under way for the €2.9 billion regeneration of Clonburris strategic development zone that will house up to 23,000 residents, complete with an exciting mix of commercial and leisure opportunities, whilst with the proposed upgrading of the train line to a Dart service serving Clonburris, the new Studio building will be easily accessible by a high frequency public transport route. In addition, the 12th Lock Studio is also located beside Adamstown strategic development zone, with the delivery of 8,500 new homes advancing at pace, as well as a series of public parks, schools, a new library and enterprise centre and community facilities. Adjoining the lands at the 12th Lock sits Grange Castle Business Park, one of Ireland’s premier business campuses with capacity for up to 20,000 jobs and is home to some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical, R&D, media and IT companies.
Spanning over two floors, with studio space, offices, editing suites and catering facilities, complete with associated car-parking, an attractive public realm and a distinctive architectural design, the council will construct the studio following input into the building’s final design from its new partner, who will be responsible for fit-out costs and the long-term operations of the new studio facility. Laura McGlynn, commercial development officer for South Dublin County Council added: “There is significant potential to create an exemplar development whether that be for professionals in filmmaking, animation, recording or any other media subsectors. We are providing potential operators with an opportunity to shape the design of this building and its operational model”.
Colm Ward, chief executive of South Dublin County Council, said: “The development of the 12th Lock Studio represents an exciting opportunity to work with a partner who has extensive experience in media production in creating a state-of-the-art vibrant working studio, where content makers will thrive in a dynamic environment with best-in-class creative support, technology and equipment”.
Recognising the significant growth potential in an ever-changing media sector, with the emergence of indigenous businesses in animation, gaming, digitisation, virtual production, audio, lighting and visual production, the council is seeking to support SMEs, skills and talent development in the creative economy, with the provision of much needed production facilities in the 12th Lock Studio.
The council would like to open dialogue with interested operators who have experience in running studios and in particular, operators who may have an interest in providing an ancillary educational academy to help elevate learning for students in this sector.
Interested SMEs are encouraged to explore the possibilities of forming relationships with other small or larger enterprises to meet the financial, economic or technical capacity requirements of the tender process, if required.
With planning permission in place for the studio, construction for this new development is due to commence in Q1 2025 and South Dublin County Council are welcoming expressions of interest through a public procurement process for an operator for the new Studio.
Registration must be made through the OGP’s e-tender system (etenders.gov.ie). If this is your first time using the platform there is a video to help with the registration.
Further information can be requested by developdept@sdublincoco.ie