Far in advance of securing approval from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA), plans were unveiled yesterday for a landmark tower, shopping and leisure complex on a 12-acre site adjoining the Point on North Wall Quay.
The 32-storey tower, rising to a height of 100 metres, would contain apartments on its upper levels and "whatever the market decides" below them, according to a spokesman for developer Harry Crosbie, the Docklands entrepreneur who owns the site.
The scheme, to be known as the 'Point Village', would include a 12-screen multiplex cinema, a 220-bedroom hotel, 200 apartments as well as office space, underground parking for 1,250 cars and a shopping centre of 9,290 sq metres (100,000 sq feet).
Designed by Scott Tallon Walker, who are also the architects for the development of nearby Spencer Dock, the scheme will also include an extensive remodelling of the Point to increase its capacity to 14,000 and a smaller venue for 2,500.
Formerly the Midland Great Western Railway's freight depot, the Point would be enlarged into an amphitheatre to attract some of the world's biggest productions, according to a spokesman for Mr Crosbie. The present venue can accommodate 7,000.
Provision for a major extension to the Point, as well as a 100-metre tower and district-scale shopping centre, has been made by the DDDA in its revised planning scheme for the area. The final deadline for submissions on this plan was last Friday.
With Spencer Dock one of the final two contenders for the National Conference Centre and proposals to relocate the Abbey Theatre to the Custom House Docks, the 'Point Village' would see the North Wall Quay area becoming a major cultural destination.
The €700 million scheme's "signature building" would be the proposed 100-metre landmark tower, which would mirror the much-publicised U2 Tower on Britain Quay, directly across the River Liffey. As redesigned, it would also soar to a height of 100 metres.
The two towers would mark the maritime gateway to Dublin where the city meets the sea, according to Michael Tallon, partner in Scott Tallon Walker.
"Those arriving in by sea will be welcomed by twinned portals which will give Dublin an instantly recognisable vista."
Trevor Bowen, a non-executive director of the Point Village and a director of U2's Principle Management company, said: "This will be the fruition of many years work for us and will shift the centre of gravity of the city downriver and back to its bay."
According to the developers, the Dublin Port Tunnel - due to open next year - will take much of the heavy traffic out of the area.
A proposed Docklands extension to the Tallaght Luas line, running along Mayor St, would also link it to the city centre.
If the 'Point Village' development is deemed by the DDDA to be in compliance with its revised planning scheme for the north docks area, it would not have to go through the normal planning process and construction could start early next year.
