Construction BUSINESS

The redevelopment of Clerys department store on Dublin’s O’Connell Street will provide a “new focus and heartbeat” to the city centre, a planning hearing has heard.

Architect Rory Murphy from Henry J Lyons said development of the existing building would “reactivate” Earl Place and other under-used streets just off the capital’s main thoroughfare. The proposed development includes refurbishment, extension and partial change of use of the Clerys Building to provide a mixed use retail, office, café, restaurant and bar development.

The building will be six storeys in height, and include a new rooftop viewing terrace which includes bars and restaurants, along with a 176-bedroom hotel. “It is a very strong piece of architecture, from the same architects who completed Selfridge’s in London,” Mr Murphy told the An Bord Pleanála hearing.

“From the rear of the building, it (the existing building) is less successful. We’re looking to reactivate Earl Place, and allow active use. The Luas sits either side of the building and the movement of people will be quite considerable.”

Just under 3,000 jobs will be created if the scheme goes ahead, the applicant claims, but the plans are opposed by trade union Siptu which represents many of the workers who lost their jobs in June 2015 with little or no warning.

460 staff, which included employees of Clerys as well as those employed by concession holders, were left without work after the store closed its doors after it was bought for €29 million.