Dún Laoghaire marina plan aims for 1,700 berths

A plan to treble the number of marina berths in Dún Laoghaire harbour, making it one of the largest marinas in Europe, is to be announced by the harbour company in the coming days.

The plan envisages 1,700 new private berths in addition to the existing 850.

It also involves the creation of a new breakwater running along the eastern side of the Stena Line terminal. This would provide sheltered mooring for 1,300 of the berths in an area bounded by the breakwater, the Royal Irish and Royal St George Yacht Clubs, and the East Pier.

Some 400 of the new anchorages are to be constructed behind the existing breakwater at the west pier. A planning application for these berths, as phase one, is expected in the coming weeks.

Confirming the plans yesterday, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company chief executive Michael Hanahoe said advertisements for consultants to draw up detailed plans for phase two, the remainder of the scheme, would be placed in the European Journal and national press within the next week.

Mr Hanahoe said the proposed development reflected the modern leisure usage of the harbour which had grown as traditional import and export activities at the port had declined.

The creation of the new marina would not preclude the continued operation of the Stena Line terminal, which has existing agreements up to 2011. Stena and the harbour company are in negotiations about the future of the service beyond that date.

Other issues likely to arise are the location and number of parking spaces at the harbour which would be available to private berth holders, continued public access including the proposed walkways, the needs of existing yacht clubs and the possible simultaneous construction of the public private partnership development at the Carlisle Pier.

According to Mr Hanahoe, there would be significant benefits for the Royal St George and and Royal Irish Yacht clubs from the new marina in terms of additional visitors, new members and increased activity.

Mr Hanahoe said the company was anxious to ensure continued public access and this was something which would be considered by the design consultants.

A building designed by architects Heneghan Peng to replace the Carlisle Pier was required to represent landmark architecture, be of cultural significance and provide public access. Mr Hanahoe said the requirements "made it very expensive to build".

Final evaluations were being made and if successful would result in a planning application in the first half of next year.

Parking, he said, would be a difficult issue to resolve but he did not rule out building an underground car park. It would be a priority for the design consultants.

Mr Hanahoe said phase one of the development - 400 berths at the west pier - would provide enough berth capacity until 2011.

However, research had shown very large growth in boat ownership and high demand for berths. Referring to controversy over the initial marina in the harbour, Mr Hanahoe said: "I think if you talk to the same people now they will say the marina is the best thing that happened to the harbour in 20 years".

Stena Line spokesman Eamon Hewitt said it had made proposals to extend its lease at the harbour up to 2016; although more expensive than Dublin, the company considered Dún Laoghaire one of Ireland's premier tourist destinations and wanted to stay.