Docklands scheme would be largest ever

MAJOR public projects, including a national sports facility, a centre for the performing arts and an interactive science museum are likely to be the "anchors" for the State's largest ever urban renewal scheme redeveloping Dublin's 1,300 acre redundant docklands.

These are among the numerous proposals in a lengthy report published yesterday by the consultants who have been working on the preparation of a draft master plan for the area since last September. Contrary to expectations, however, it does not amount to a plan.

Mr Sean O'Laoire, who headed the Riverrun consultancy team, said its tentative title, Towards a Draft Master Plan, was largely because the council of the new dock lands development authority had yet to be appointed, and it would be up to it to adopt the draft.

The authority's chairman, Mr Lar Bradshaw, was due to be presented with a copy of the report at a reception in the Grand Canal. Docks at noon yesterday. However, neither he nor any other member of the authority showed up, though a spokesman denied this was a snub.

In a statement, the authority said it had received a copy of the consultants' final report "which will provide material for inclusion in the preparation of the draft master plan", a phrase which clearly indicates it regards the report as merely an input into this process.

It is known there have been differences between the consultants and their clients over aspects of the report, which had been scheduled for publication on March 31st. Its publication yesterday, before these issues have been resolved, was timed with the general election in mind.

The Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, whose constituency includes over half of the designated docklands area, was not present for the function either, even though the idea of setting up an authority to take charge of the area was his initiative, announced in the 1996 Budget.

The overall objective of the docklands master plan will be to secure the "sustainable social and economic regeneration of the area" over a period of 10 to 15 years. It must also encourage and support "bottom up" - development activity by local community interests.

As the report says, the "central challenge" of the master plan will be to translate the potential of economic regeneration to the benefit of people in the area who feel "bypassed and marginalised by the forces of change", particularly the Custom House Docks development.

Among the measures it proposes to achieve this is a framework to meet the housing needs of local people, many of whom regard the new apartment blocks in the area as private "fortresses Thus, "at least 10 per cent" of all new housing will be social housing.

The report also proposes the establishment of a "saol scoil", or college of lifelong learning, which would be focused on directing education towards the needs of existing docklands residents.

One of the principal employment generators it proposes is the "Dublin technopole", on the model of the French city of Montpelier. It would be a major precinct of knowledge and technology based industry, research and development, run in conjunction with the universities.

Projects such as community based landscaping initiatives, which could provide jobs and foster a sense of ownership, are also proposed. These would range from neighbourhood "pocket parks" to cityscale amenity spaces, including a major public park along the Royal Canal.

One of the most innovative ideas in the document is the development of a largescale "ecopark" on the Poolbeg peninsula, including a major landscaped area overlaying Dublin Corporation's sewage treatment works, which is to be upgraded by a multi million pound EU funded scheme.

It also suggests that the surplus energy generated by the ESB's Poolbeg power station and by the sewage works be used to fuel a district heating scheme for the docklands area, enabling much of its heating requirements to be met without having to use conventional systems.

Another major element in the plan is the creation of a "beautiful and sustainable urban environment", by developing the waterways in the area for recreational use. "Water sports of all sorts will animate the area", it says, giving Dublin a "new dimension".

One of the key aims is to make the area attractive as a residential location, even for family living, thus counteracting suburban sprawl. Altogether, the report envisages that an extra 20,000 people could be accommodated in the docklands area over the next 15 years.