One of Dublin’s oldest flat complexes to be redeveloped

The redevelopment of one of Dublin’s oldest purpose-built flat complexes is to begin this autumn, more than a year and a half since the residents were moved out of their homes.

The residents of Crampton Buildings in Temple Bar were in February 2012 given one month to move to allow a €2.9 million redevelopment begin. Work is not due to start until later this year and is expected to take 12-14 months.

Dublin City Council announced in January 2012 that it had secured funding from the Department of the Environment to bring the building up to fire safety regulations and modern standards. The mostly one-bed Victorian flats have inadequate kitchens and bathrooms, are damp, have no central heating, and many have faulty electrical fittings.

Fewer but larger
City councillors will tonight be asked to approve the plans which will see the 54 flats reconfigured to just 28. The new apartments will meet fire safety codes, but the council said they will fail the minimum standards in relation to size.

Crampton Buildings was built in 1891 by the Dublin Artisans' Dwelling Company and was privately owned for more than 100 years. The council bought the flats in 1998 after residents became concerned about eviction when Treasury Holdings showed interest in owning the complex and eventually purchased the groundfloor shops and restaurants underneath the flats.

A master plan for the complex was devised in 2006, which involved refurbishment of the units and construction of an additional storey. The development would have cost in the region of €8.5 million, and in 2010 the council decided it could no longer fund it.

The new plans are more modest. There will be no new storey – instead a smaller number of larger flats will be created. There will be five one-bedroom units of 50sq m, 19 two-bedroom units of 60sq m, three three-bedroom units of 70sq m and one special needs unit of 60sq m. In all categories the flats will fall below minimum size standards.

However, the council said it was a protected structure and there were residents who wished to go on living there.