Dublin City Council approves plans to redevelop iconic Stephen's Green Shopping Centre

Dublin City looks set to lose one of its most iconic buildings after Dublin City Council granted planning permission for a €100 million redevelopment of the landmark Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. 

The Council has granted planning permission to DTDL Ltd, controlled by a fund operated by wealth manager Davy, for the "rejuvenation" of the center. 

Davy, which purchased the center on behalf of its clients for €175 million in 2019, secured the green light for the redevelopment after reducing the scale of the project.

According to the Irish Times, the Dublin City Council planner's report concluded that "the proposed reductions to the scale and massing of the building significantly reduces the visual impact on this sensitive environment."

The planner's report acknowledged that the building is a local landmark but said it was not a landmark because of its architecture, adding that it wasn't a protected building. 

First opened in 1988, Stephen's Green Shopping Centre is instantly recognizable by its exterior facade of glass and white ironwork. 

The original proposal, which was filed last December, comprised a total gross floor area of 87,932 sq meters, an increase of 21,419 sq meters compared to the original development. 

The largest component of the new development is office use, with the proposal providing 35,043 sq meters for office and ancillary spaces. 

The developers are also proposing to build a cinema and gallery space and increase the level of retail and food and beverage space in the center. 

The proposal, drawn up by BKD architects, stated that Stephen's Green Shopping Centre has faced significant difficulties attracting major retailers since opening in 1988, especially on the upper floors of the center, where units are too small to house commercially viable businesses. 

Part of the new proposal aims to reconfigure street-level units to allow for larger shops to be commercially viable. 

The proposal also aims to include a partial retail level on the first floor, with the remaining upper floors reserved for commercial office use. 

Meanwhile, the proposal additionally aims to introduce a restaurant and bar zone linking the mall to the surrounding streets. 

John Spain & Associates, planning consultants for the proposal, told Dublin City Council that the current building has become "outdated," adding that the proposal aims to provide a high-quality retail and office facility.