THE GRAND CANAL DOCK PLANNING SCHEME 2000

The Nature and Extent of Proposed Development
The Authority intends to regenerate the Area socially, economically and physically by pursuing a policy of mixed use development for the Area in order to provide significant residential and commercial opportunities and achieve a sustainable environment integrating living, working and leisure. In doing so it will avoid unnecessary segregation in housing between people of different social backgrounds, providing a mixture of residential types and sizes and creating a sustainable social mix. In short it will create a vibrant new neighbourhood around the excellent water bodies of the Area. It will repopulate an under-populated area yet not exceed a net density of 247 units unless it can be demonstrated that good orientation and private open space standards can be maintained.

Distribution and Location of Uses
The Planning Scheme proposes a land use mix of 40% commercial and 60% residential based on land area. Residential includes hotels, cultural, and local shops. Variations may be considered to a minimum of 40% residential, 30% commercial and 30% variable, where a development contributes to the Area through the provision of open space or provides social/affordable housing in excess of the minimum requirement.

Office use would benefit from high accessibility and water-frontage. Offices blocks should be situated primarily on main streets, within walking distance of public transport and small office should be more integrated with other uses within the finer grain development.

Residential units will vary in both size and type accommodating many types of people and family units. Each proposal should contain an appropriate mix. Emphasis should be made on accommodation that encourages owner occupation through the provision of large space. Apartment living along the main streets will be contrasted with 'own front door' family housing along a new east-west street and the north-south mews. Elements such as roof gardens, communal courtyards and substantial balconies will provide high quality amenity space for the residents.

Adequate retail enterprises should be provided along with a deluxe hotel and a major cultural/landmark building on the new GCD square and another landmark building at the end of Sir John Rogerson's Quay at Hammond Lane.

Overall Design
As a result of the layout of the docks and the area's historical uses a simple grid structure exists throughout the Area. New streets and pedestrian routes are proposed to link into this existing grid network including pedestrian bridges across the Liffey and the Dodder and a public transport bridge across the mouth of the latter. The resultant network shall encourage walking and cycling to local facilities whilst the primary north-south and east-west pedestrian links will intersect at a new public square on which there will be a cultural/landmark building and hotel.

The existing building lines should be generally followed enabling the character of the area to be retained and existing protected structures to be integrated successfully with new development. A block structure will be generated by the grid street pattern and each block frontage will always face the street yet leave quiet internal spaces for communal or private amenity space.

The higher buildings should line the main streets and waterfronts, with either six storeys of commercial or seven storeys of residential with a provision for a further set-back storey. The development along the new east-west street could be four storeys with 'own front door' accommodation in two storey segments. Mews developments could run north-south enabling greater permeability through the blocks. Provision is made for two high-rise landmark buildings at the eastern and of Sir John Rogerson's Quay and also at the former meat-packing plant at the southern end of Barrow Street.

Development of Amenities
The water bodies will be exploited to the full by removing buildings to open up the quayside areas and improving landscaping of the quays. The water bodies will be developed for recreation including water sports. A major new public open space in the form of Grand Canal Square will become the pedestrian fulcrum of the Area and public green space will be located within the heart of the residential portion of the development. All lighting, seating, paving signage and planting will be integrated into the development and cycle parking will be provided to encourage cycling as a mode of transport.

Transportation
The overall movement strategy for the Area will be consistent with the Dublin Transport Initiative Strategy and land use and transportation will be integrated into the Area in a manner that forms part of the DTI Strategy. Accessibility to public transport will be maximised with the provision of extra pedestrian links to the DART station bringing most of the area within 10 minutes walk. In addition, new bus routes through the GCD will be vital. Accessibilty to the Area will be improved by the new Macken Street Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava.

The strategy aims to make movement by foot or cycle as easy, direct and safe as possible through the introduction of dedicated cycle lanes and the provision of a network of pedestrian routes. These latter routes shall incorporate new pedestrian bridges over the Liffey and Dodder as well the high quality footpaths and safe road crossings.

The overall level of parking provision will be set at a level which encourages use of public transport whilst at the same time making allowance for essential users. The majority of parking will be provided within off-street garages, including a major underground car park beneath Grand Canal Square. Bicycle parking will be provided at major public transport nodes and at key meeting places.