Dublin docklands €4.5bn expansion plan goes on show

A €4.5 billion plan for the further development of Dublin’s docklands has been put on display for public consultation. The master plan by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) includes proposals for high-rise buildings, thousands of new apartments, major architectural set pieces and cultural landmarks. The plan, which covers the period 2008 to 2013, proposes up to eight 20-storey towers along Dublin’s seafront as part of a policy of allowing higher densities, particularly near public transport routes. It also envisages not only the extension of the Luas line from Connolly Station to the Point theatre, which is currently under construction, but a further extension to the Poolbeg peninsula. Major projects in the plan which are already under construction include a new bridge across the Liffey by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and the new Grand Canal Theatre due for completion in 2010. The new plan includes a greater emphasis on family-friendly living compared to before, with developers having to provide facilities that benefit the community as well as ensuring adequate play spaces are provided for children.