Planning & Development:A revised planning application has been submitted for the landmark Iveagh Markets site in the Liberties by businessman and developer Martin Keane.
The long-delayed project will see major redevelopment on the site including the provision of a hotel and retail units.
The project is large enough to warrant an environmental impact statement and details of this and the overall development were outlined in an application placed last Thursday in the Irish Examiner.
It describes the "mixed-use scheme" on two sites separated by Lamb Alley, with a total site area of 0.663 hectares. The site is composed of the Iveagh Markets, 22-27 Francis Street, Dublin 8, and an adjacent plot to the north of the market building occupied mainly by 20-21 Francis Street and 8 Lamb Alley.
It also refers to a request to amend a previously permitted scheme for the Mother Redcaps Market, public house and offices, a site of about 0.235 hectares.
"The proposed mixed-use development will comprise 21,148sq m [227,635sq ft] gross floor area, including 11 car-parking spaces," the planning notice indicates.
It proposes a refurbishment and redevelopment of the Iveagh Markets element for use as a "multi-function" market and retail centre. This would include the construction of a basement and sub-basement beneath the market structure giving 3,351sq m (36,070sq ft); the addition of 248sq m (2,669sq ft) of floor space at mezzanine level and 234sq m (2,519sq ft) at first floor level.
The development within the Markets building would total 6,996sq m (75,304sq ft), including 5,543sq m (59,664sq ft) of retail space at all levels from sub-basement to first floor.
The notice provides for new archway openings to allow for a single storey building to provide a link between the two market halls, the Wet Market and the Dry Market.
Space would be provided as expected for retail, dining, drinking and restaurant uses, as well as exhibition space, an entertainment gallery and performance area.
The hotel element would occupy the plot including 20-21 Francis Street and 8 Lamb Alley. The application provides for a seven-storey hotel over basement providing 97 bedrooms and 2,514sq m (27,060sq ft) of space. There would be space for a nightclub and bar, with the use of 20-21 Francis Street, a protected structure, as a night lobby entrance to the hotel.
Number 8 Lamb Alley is also a protected structure and the proposal calls for this to be converted into an independent public house of 138sq m (1,485sq ft). It also allows for an outdoor seated dining and drinking area adjacent to the Market Passage which runs along the northern edge of the Iveagh Market building. There would also be an outdoor area of this kind fronting Lamb Alley.
The previously permitted scheme that incorporated Mother Redcaps allowed for 49 apartments and retail units, but Keane is now seeking permission for an aparthotel of 83 units - comprising a total of 7,200sq m (77,500sq ft) and including four own-door terraced units fronting onto John Dillon Street - and an independent café bar/restaurant.
The permitted pedestrian street running between the two-block development "is to be realigned to the north-west and is to be used as an outdoor dining/ drinking/smoking/performance area with security gates at each end".
The proposed amendments also include works to the City Wall, which is also a protected structure that runs along the Lamb Alley site boundary.
It seeks to create new window and door openings, a change to the position of the approved pedestrian entrance through the wall and lowering the height of the wall.
