dún laoghaire harbour company

Carlisle Pier Development Exhibition in January 2004

In July of this year, the Harbour Company announced a tender competition to redevelop the Carlisle Pier. Following an initial evaluation process, four proposals were short-listed from fourteen proposals originally received.

Next month the Harbour Company will put the four short-listed proposals for the development of the Carlisle Pier on public display. An exhibition will take place in the Terminal Building from January 30th to February 8th and will be open during the daytime, some evenings and over two weekends. The four proposals will include models, display boards and supporting documentation.

Harbour users, local interest groups and members of the public will be invited to visit the exhibition and make their views on the relative merits of the four short-listed proposals known to the Harbour Company Board. These views will be independently assessed and researched before being presented to the Board to help inform its decision on which proposal to select.

The four short-listed proposals will be evaluated by an Assessment Panel of experts appointed to advise the Board on the selection of a preferred bidder. When evaluating the proposals the Panel will use the following criteria:

• Quality of architectural design
• Compliance with the zoning requirements for the Carlisle Pier as set out in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan.
• Benefit to the community from the proposed national cultural attractions.
• Nature and extent of public access to the re-developed Pier.
• Timescale for the completion of the development.
• Financial return to the Harbour Company.

The Panel will include practising architects, and members drawn from the management of the Company and its professional advisers. The members of the Panel are: Michael O'Doherty (Principal Architect and Director of Architectural Services at the Office of Public Works), Shane O'Toole (Tegral company architect and Irish architecture critic of the Sunday Times), Grainne Shaffrey (Shaffrey Associates Architects), Stephen Cassidy (Director, Hamilton Osborne King), Fergal MacCabe (Fergal MacCabe & Partners, Planning Consultants), Paul O'Connell (Moylan & Associates Engineers), Nicola Palmer (LK Shields, Solicitors), Michael Hanahoe (Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company).

The Harbour Company and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council jointly want the re-development of the derelict Pier to become the major attraction for visitors and the people of Dún Laoghaire, reflecting its historic significance and maximising its potential to enhance the physical, cultural, economic and social life of Dún Laoghaire. The planning requirements for the site include the provision of a landmark building of international architectural quality and a significant cultural attraction.

The Board of the Company will make a decision on a preferred bidder for the re-development of the Pier in March 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 commences.

Built between 1855 and 1859, the Carlisle Pier has been closed to the public since 1995 when the new terminal building for the HSS ferry was opened.

Commenting on the forthcoming exhibition, Harbour Company CEO, Michael Hanahoe said: "I believe we have short-listed four excellent projects which have the potential to meet the very stringent planning requirements for the site and provide Dún Laoghaire with a beautiful new waterfront development. I would encourage as many people to come to the exhibition and make their views on the relative merits of the four proposals known to the Board of the Harbour Company".

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is a commercial state company charged with the responsibility for the development of Dún Laoghaire Harbour. All of the profits from its commercial activities are invested in the conservation and maintenance of the Harbour.

Details of the four proposals, their architects and cultural components are overleaf.

The dates and opening times of the exhibition are shown on the back page