Grafton Street, one of Dublin's premier retail streets, is to become an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) with special planning controls, with the aim of enhancing its attractiveness in the battle with suburban shopping centres.
These changes in its planning status - recommended in a new retail strategy for the city - were presented to Dublin City Council's strategic policy committee this week and will now go forward as amendments to the city development plan.
The ACA designation will allow the city's planners to exert greater control in the management of future development on the street, and to devise a series of policies to address the issues detracting from its character.
The principal concerns of the planners relate to "an increasing imbalance in the mix of uses in the street, the deteriorating quality in the design of shopfronts and the public domain, including the condition of street paving and street furniture".
To control future changes of use of individual premises and maintain a balance in the mix of uses, the city council proposes to introduce a special planning control scheme, which will "de-exempt" specified changes of use.
The scheme will identify uses that will not be allowed on Grafton Street and also other uses that will only be allowed in limited numbers.
All works to building facades will also be subject to control, requiring "the highest standards of contemporary design".
As part of the initiative to protect and enhance the street's unique character - and that of its 24 listed buildings - the city council plans to improve the quality of the public domain, including paving, lighting and other street furniture.
The ACA designation is being made under Section 13 of the 2000 Planning Act, which requires a period of public consultation before it can be adopted as an amendment to the city development plan. The process could take several months.
"This is a positive move which will undoubtedly protect and enhance Grafton Street's shopping quality when competing with the new suburban centres," said Cllr Gerry Breen, leader of the council's Fine Gael group, yesterday.
A proper balance needs to be struck before the street "tips", according to Cllr Oisin Quinn (Labour). "The presence of landmark units such as BTs, Weirs and Bewley's Cafe preserves its 'high-value' character, but protection needs to be put in place."
