Dublin City Council has requested further information from developers seeking to redevelop the St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, effectively stalling the €100 million project. The council has raised concerns about the proposed facade redesign, requesting DTDL Ltd, the applicant, to “strongly reconsider” the plans.
In a letter to DTDL, council planners stated the existing shopping centre “is a unique local landmark, with an individual identity which sets it apart from other buildings in Dublin.” They argued the proposed design “is somewhat lacking in strong elements of urban design and placemaking that would contribute positively and integrate into the public realm and streetscape of St Stephen’s Green and Grafton Street.” The council has requested updated visualisations reflecting any redesigns.
Despite these concerns, the council’s 25-page planner’s report acknowledges the need to rejuvenate the shopping centre, noting it is currently “underperforming with a poor configuration and floor plate of retail outlets that limit the occupiers of the premises.”
The move by Dublin City Council follows a recommendation for refusal from the Heritage Council and comes after An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) previously rejected plans for the revamp five months ago. The current application represents a revised attempt by the centre’s owners, property investor and operator Lanthorn, through DTDL Ltd, to secure planning permission. The ACP had previously criticised the scheme for “lacks a strong sense of original aesthetic and would not achieve a sufficiently high standard of placemaking, urban design and architecture at this key city centre location.”
The council has also requested a standalone demolition justification report, in line with the Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028, to provide a “robust justification for demolition.” Further clarification is also sought regarding the intended use of a proposed “townhall” space within the redevelopment, as well as addressing concerns raised by the council’s transportation division.
The plans involve the demolition of the shopping centre’s landmark glass dome and a redesign of the building’s exterior. The revised scheme, a collaboration between BKD Architects and O’Donnell + Tuomey architects, aims to accommodate 3,000 office workers and provide 19,001 sq/m of retail space. The development also includes plans for café/restaurant/bar uses, a two-screen cinema, and an art exhibition space.
The council received 61 submissions on the application, with the majority opposing the redevelopment. A petition supporting an objection lodged by the Save Stephen’s Green Campaign has garnered 20,000 signatures.