Latest Press Release Wednesday 28th January 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Major public exhibition opens this week of proposals to redevelop the Carlisle Pier in Dún Laoghaire Harbour

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has today (Wednesday 28th January) announced the details of a major public exhibition of proposals to redevelop the derelict Carlisle Pier in the centre of Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

Four proposals have been short-listed by the Harbour Company and displays of these, including visual representations and large scale models, will be on show in the Ferry Terminal Building from Friday 30th January until Sunday 8th February. The opening times of the exhibition are set out below. The proposals have been designed by major Irish and international architects to comply with the zoning requirement for the site to have an "exceptional landmark building of international architectural quality".

The planning criteria for the site also stipulate that each proposal must include a cultural attraction of national importance and significant public access with walkways and viewing areas throughout the site.

The exhibition is part of the Harbour Company's commitment to consult fully with the public on the proposed redevelopment and to seek comments and observations. The Company has commissioned an independent company to research the public's views and opinions at the exhibition. All the views received will by assessed and will be presented in a report to the Board of the Harbour Company to help inform its decision on which proposal to select.

Details of the four proposals are as follows:

Proposal A

Developer: Laing O'Rourke & Benton Property Holdings
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Cultural Attraction: A National Maritime Museum

Proposal B

Developer: Mailboat Pier Company (Heritage Properties Ltd & Melcorpo Property Developments Ltd)
Architect: Daniel Libeskind Architects
Cultural Attraction: An Irish Diaspora Museum

Proposal C

Developer: Pierse Contracting
Architect: Scott Tallon Walker
Cultural Attraction: A National Centre for Irish Culture

Proposal D

Developer: Urban Capital (John Sisk & Son Ltd Ireland, Thomas Read Group, Urban Capital Group)
Architect: heneghan.peng.architects
Cultural Attraction: A National Marine Life Centre

The four short-listed proposals will be evaluated by an Assessment Panel using the following criteria:

• Quality of architectural design
• Compliance with the zoning requirements for the Pier
• Benefit to the community from the proposed cultural attraction
• Nature and extent of public access to the redeveloped Pier
• Timescale for the completion of the redevelopment
• Financial return to the Harbour Company

The Board of the Company expects to make a decision on a preferred bidder for the redevelopment of the Pier before the end of April 2004.

Any of the short-listed proposals eventually selected by the Board will require planning permission from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council before construction work begins.
Previewing the exhibition, Harbour Company Chief Executive, Michael Hanahoe said: "I am delighted that we have these four spectacular proposals to put before the public for their views on redeveloping the Carlisle Pier. The Pier has been derelict and closed to the public for many years and these proposals offer imaginative and visionary ways of reclaiming it for general access and enjoyment.

Exhibition days and times:

Fri 30 Jan: 2pm-8pm
Sat 31 Jan: 11am-5pm.
Sun 1 Feb: 11am-4pm
Mon 2 - Wed 4 Feb: 11am-5pm
Thu 5 Feb: 11am-8pm
Fri 6 Feb: 2pm-8pm
Sat 7 Feb: 11am-5pm
Sun 8 Feb: 11am-4pm.

Opening Times Extended due to unexpected public interest.

For further information:

Roy Dooney, The Media Group - 2755975 / 087 2414165

Note to editors:

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is the statutory commercial body charged with developing Dún Laoghaire Harbour as a marine tourism gateway to Ireland, maintaining and enhancing the recreational and amenity value of the Harbour and promoting investment and commercial development to support the historic Harbour's long-term maintenance. The Harbour was built between 1817 and 1842 and is widely recognised as one of the finest artificial harbours in the world. The Carlisle Pier was built between 1855 and 1859 and was the main pier for shipping traffic between Dún Laoghaire and Holyhead in Wales.

View the Carlisle Pier Exhibition Poster
View additional information relating to the Carlisle Pier Project

Previous Press Releases

• Carlisle Pier Exhibition Poster 2004
• Carlisle Pier Redevelopment Project
• Carlisle Pier Brochure Design Award
• Tidy Towns Best Present Business Premises 2003
• Victoria Fountain 29th Jan 2003
• Financial Results 2002
• Victoria Fountain Winter 2001
• Sailing Sponsorship 25th Jun 2001

 

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