Dublin Chamber calls for higher density

Dublin city's new development plan should foster higher density development, with a previous refusal to adopt such commercial development losing the county about €12 billion in GNP, Dublin Chamber of Commerce said today.

The group made the claim in a submission in response to the Dublin City Development Plan 2011–2017.

Research from the UK cited by the chamber said boosting the density of employment in an area can increase output per worker by 12.5 per cent, and up to 22 per cent for those in the services sector.

This would have boosted the county's current €60 billion value, the submission said.

The submission says that the development plan should foster higher density commercial development for future and refurbished offices.

The chamber said the current development plan has "insufficient focus" on supporting economic growth in the city and recommended strengthening the development of office space in core commercial areas in the city. This approach would involve a move away from too many zonings that attempt to address all development needs, and designating certain core business districts as "office commercial" to encourage a move away from mixed-use development for every scheme.

The proposal also recommended supporting the redevelopment of older buildings in the city centre.

"It is critical that vacant building stock is redeveloped and is not let continue the cycle into disrepair over the medium to long term if Dublin is to remain an attractive location domestically and internationally," the submission said.

Business parks and industrial estates in the city region must be audited, it said, and space along the planned Dart Underground, Metro North lines and Luas services must be maximised.

"The over-arching strategy of the next Development Plan must be revised. It needs to be business focused and address what Dublin City Council intends to do to tackle the well-documented competitiveness deficits of the Dublin City Region, and specifically to improve the business environment so that existing jobs are supported and employment generated," said chief executive of Dublin Chamber Gina Quin.

"Growing our economy will enable us to improve other elements of city living, one drives the other. Currently, this plan misses that point."