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An Architectural Conservation Area is an area of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, technical interest or value. The O'Connell Street area is the first designated architectural conservation area in Dublin City Borough.
The O'Connell Street Architectural Conservation Area straddles both sides of the River Liffey. To the north of the river, the area takes in all of O'Connell Street, extending to Parnell Street to the north, Marlborough Street to the east and Moore Street / Moore Lane to the west. To the south of the river, the area incorporates both D'Olier Street and Westmoreland Street extending to Hawkins Street to the east, College Street to the south and to the rear of buildings fronting onto the west side of Westmoreland Street.
The O'Connell Street area is of special architectural importance - it is a reminder of the great classical era of urban planning and building carried out by the Wide Streets Commissioners in 18th century Dublin. It also has an historical and civic importance. The purpose of the conservation plan is to protect and enhance this special character.
The objectives of the Architectural Conservation Area Plan are to:
- Conserve, restore and rehabilitate the existing building stock of the area.
- Ensure that all proposed developments are carried out in a manner sympathetic to the architectural and civic character of the O'Connell Street area.
- Regenerate the historical urban area through the implementation of a programme of street improvement schemes, including the upgrading of the existing network of streets, footpaths and public spaces.
For the first time, general controls over works to the exteriors of non-protected buildings or structures have been introduced. These controls apply as follows:
- Planning permission will be required for all works to the exterior of non-protected buildings that are not consistent with the external appearance of these buildings, the neighbouring buildings and with the character of the O'Connell Street Architectural Conservation Area.
- All changes and alterations to architectural features of merit on the main facades of non-protected buildings of structures and identified in the Architectural Conservation Area Plan will require planning permission.
Although strict controls will be applied to all development works in the area, some works will continue not to require planning permission including:
- Routine works of maintenance when there is no change to the form of the element under repair or to the type of materials.
- Changes to land use within the same use class as defined by the Local Government (Planning & Development) Regulations 1994 - 2000.
- Solely interior works.
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