O’Connell St plan to ban new adult shops, chippers, arcades

A new plan for Dublin's O'Connell Street, which will govern the future use and redevelopment of properties including the former Clerys department store, is to be published by Dublin City Council.

Clerys was sold by Boston-based Gordon Brothers to Natrium Ltd last June. OCS Operations Ltd, which had been running the shop, was then placed into liquidation, resulting in the immediate closure of the department store.

More than 400 staff, including direct employees of Clerys and those working for concession holders at the store, lost their jobs.

The draft scheme of special planning control for O’Connell Street and surrounding areas, including Henry Street, North Earl Street and Middle Abbey Street, as well as Westmoreland Street and D’Olier Street, is designed to encourage appropriate commercial activity, while protecting the area’s architectural, cultural, civic and historic character.

The scheme gives extra planning powers to protect existing shops of “special significance” and discourages the emergence of “less appropriate uses” of premises.

Permission will not be granted under the scheme for certain types of shops, including amusement arcades, bookmakers, fast-food outlets, mobile-phone shops or “adult entertainment” shops.

The scheme does not give the council power to shut down such shops already in existence, but stops any further outlets from opening.

In addition, planning permission would be required for any change to “existing important historic stores” including changes to the retail format, or the subdivision of premises.

"Businesses such as Clerys department store, the Gresham Hotel and Eason & Son Ltd have helped shape the social, cultural, economic and architectural character of O'Connell Street and the area over generations," it says. "It is an objective of the scheme of special planning control to protect such uses that contribute significantly to the special character of the area."

Consumer demand

It says there may be a call for changes in the retail format and layout of certain important historic stores in line with changing consumer demand. “In the event of any such proposals being submitted, the primary objective will be to attract uses and formats that will contribute to the development of a strong and competitive retail sector on O’Connell Street and the restoration of the street as the principal civic thoroughfare of the city and a major shopping destination.”

Natrium has said it wants to turn the Clerys building into a “mixed use destination” but has yet to submit a planning application to the council.

City councillors voted in June to stop Clerys being used for offices or a hotel, but such a restriction can be enforced only if it is in compliance with planning policies such as the scheme of special planning control.

The scheme will be available for public consultation and submissions for eight weeks. The final plan must be approved by city councillors before it comes into force.