Major Grand Canal Harbour Development Nears Completion:
Aidan Crowley brings us up to date with the large scale development at Grand Canal Harbour
The expansive, state-of-the-art, development at Grand Canal Harbour, Grand Canal
Place, off James’s Street, which offers a dynamic new living experience to this part of the
Liberties, is now nearing completion. Construction on the historic site of the old Grand
Canal Harbour terminus, began back in June 2021 when developer Pat Crean’s Marlet
Property Group appointed Walls Construction as the main building contractor.
Located adjacent to the Guinness Storehouse, the complex includes five hundred and
ninety-six apartments, mainly private rental, with around one hundred and eleven social
housing units, to be managed by Tuath. The huge development also includes 76,000 sq ft
(7,000 sq m) of retail space (with a Tesco Express on the way), a medical centre, a
creche, co-working spaces, a cafe/restaurant and 18,000 aq ft (1,700 sq m) of amenity
space.
This scheme is one of the largest development projects to be completed in this part of the
Dublin 8 catchment area for many years. The development is set out in six blocks,
ranging in height from three to thirteen stories, with a largely pedestrianised environment
to the fore. A series of three large water features, dotted throughout the site, represents its
life a as a former busting harbour.
Plans for this major development were submitted by Marlet, back in 2019. An earlier
proposal for the construction of offices, a hotel and a smaller number of apartments,
dating from 2009, was scrapped for a more residentially-focused scheme.
This development occupies the site of the old harbour that was the termination point of
the Grand Canal, until it was de-commissioned in the early 1970’s. The new scheme now
terminates the vista, along Market Street South and is bordered by Basin Street Upper
and Echlin Street. There are also plans in place for a largescale redevelopment of the
nearby and historic St. James’s Gate Brewery lands (to be known as the Guinness
Quarter). This will further densify and alter the fabric of this part of the Liberties,
bringing new housing and leisure facilities to what, to date, has been largely industrial
land.
Alongside the taller, modern, apartment buildings, there are some reminders of the site’s
previous incarnation, such as a water pool that reflects the former harbour. A series of
excavations carried out at the site, pre-construction, revealed that the former harbour
walls and other features of the harbour were mainly intact. However, hopes that the entire
harbour itself might be restored proved to be non-realistic.
Most significantly, the historic Grand Canal Co. Warehouse building which is a protected
structure and the walls of the original terminus of the Grand Canal have been retained
and extensively refurbished, forming central features of the new development. This
impressive, crescent-shaped building, was constructed in 1785, as part of the
development of the harbour, which at that time was the terminus of the Grand Canal.
Work on construction of the canal began in the 1750’s, with the aim of connecting the
midlands to the city. One of its more prominent backers at its inception was the famous
brewer, Arthur Guinness. However, this “main line” was quickly superceded by the
Grand Canal Spur, which brought canal barges directly through the city, the docks and
the River Liffey. This is the alignment of the canal that can be seen in the city to the
present day. The old alignment remained in use until 1960, primarily serving the huge
Guinness & Sons Brewery at nearby St. James’s Gate. In 1971, the harbour allignment
was filled in and the harbour was transformed into a series of light industrial sheds and
workspaces. Only the unique, curved, harbour warehouse remained.
However, work on this harbour warehouse is still ongoing, with the building expected to
accomodate a mix of office spaces, a medical centre and a cafe/restaurant. Many of the
original features of this building have been retained and restored, while a contemporary
annexe/atrium has been added to the west of it.
About 54% of the development is designated for public spaces, including a public plaza,
offering a flexible outdoor space for open-air markets and events, open to both residents
and the public, at large.
The new development at Grand Canal Harbour is designed to deliver on Marlet’s stated
commitment to sustainable and green construction practices, with the aim of achieving
Home Performance Index (HPI) certification when fully completed.
The development is fully pedestrianised and features large landscaped areas, including a
number of roof terraces. These terraces have been designed to enhance biodiversity and
provide what the developer describes as “a green oasis in the heart of the city”, with
semi-open winter gardens, to facilitate all-year-round and all-weather usage.
This major new development is close to two stops of the LUAS Red line, Heuston
Station, as well as multiple Dublin Bus routes and Dublin bicycle stations. Grand Canal
Harbour also has excellent road connections to the M50 and the N4. Also, Dublin Airport
is a mere thirty-minute drive away.
Within a fifteen-minute walk of Dublin city centre, the Grand Canal Harbour
development aims to deliver its housing, retail and local amenity spaces package in an
inspiring environment, designed for contemporary living.
The following are some of the additional recreational and local amenities features of the
new Grand Canal Harbour development:
(1) State-of-the-art gym and seperate yoga studio.
(2) Extra large roof-top gardens and terraces with a panoramic view of Dublin City.
(3) Residents’ cafe/restaurant,
(4) Residents’ lounge.
(5) Games room with putting green.
(6) On-site residents’ engagement team.
(7) Co-working areas.
(8) On-site supermarket, cafe/restaurant and creche.
(9) Events and water features designated areas.
(10) Landscaped walkways and courtyards.
Commenting at the time of the new development’s formal announcement in 2019, Adrian
Corcoran, construction director at Walls Construction, said: “We are delighted to be
appointed as the main contractor on this project which will be a tremenduous addition to
an historic part of Dublin. It marks a continuation of our relationship with Marlet
Property Group on major projects and it will be completed to the highest standards of
building excellence and sustainability, while providing exemplary public amenities”.
