Full Steam ahead for Heuston Scheme
Irish Independent, Commercial Property Section, Wednesday 22nd September 2004

By Con Power

It’s all systems go on the biggest project outside Dublin’s Docklands following a planning “all clear” for the €300m Westgate urban renewal scheme opposite Heuston Station.

A green light from An Bord Pleanala, over-ruling objections to the scheme – the biggest part of an over all €500m project – has cleared the way for a joint Eircom/Office of Public Works (OPW) development to commence on over 85,000m² of mixed development.

This will include 285 apartments, office space, retail units, a large new public square and additional gallery space for the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Architects are Anthony Reddy & Associates.

“The process followed by the OPW and Eircom in presenting this site to the market with planning permission greatly enhances its value and will correspondingly increase the potential return to the State from its sale,” Minster for State Tom Parlon commented.

“The OPW and Eircom will now engage an estate agent to handle the sale and I anticipate a massive return to the State from its interest in the site. The proceeds from this sale will be in addition to the €100m made already this year by the OPW through the Transforming States Assets programme I initiated last year.”

The resulting sale is set to yield a seven-figure return to the State in due course.

The 9.5-acre site was formerly used as a warehousing facility by joint owners Eircom and the OPW. Sources have been speculating for some time that Eircom will ultimately locate its HQ at this prestigous new location.

Eircom chief executive officer, Phil Nolan, said “Eircom is very pleased with the granting of planning permission for Westgate, a process which we have been working on for a number of years.

This site, which has been occupied by Eircom and OPW for many years, has the potential to become a flag ship development and a vibrant living and working quarter for thousands of people.”

Plans for an adjoining 4.5-acre OPW site earmarked for an interactive science centre are still in the planning process. The latter scheme will be known at “Heuston Gate”.