27 storey tower for Drogheda
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Cool!
From today’s IT
27-storey tower to extend €300m Drogheda scheme
Fiona TyrrellA 27-storey block will form part of a €300 million shopping, leisure and residential development in the docklands area of Drogheda.
Gerry Barrett’s Edward Holdings has lodged a second planning application to enlarge the original Scotch Hall shopping centre now under construction and provide 200 apartments, some of them in the tower block. The ambitious additional features will, if given approval by Drogheda Borough Council, see the construction of one of the tallest buildings in Ireland, the provision of a further 12,667 sq m (136,346 sq ft) of shopping space, more than 200 residential units and a second new bridge across the River Boyne. Work is well advanced on the building of 25,083 sq m (270,000 sq ft) of shopping facilities in the first phase.
The original €150 million Scotch Hall shopping centre and hotel complex is already under construction and due to open by the end of the year. The newly proposed Southbank retail, residential and leisure scheme, adjacent to the shopping centre, will represent phase two of the regeneration of the south side of the river, according to the developers.
Designed by Douglas Wallace Architects, the 27-storey tower will have 25 residential floors comprising 171 apartments. The first two floors will be bars and restaurants. A further 53 apartments will be provided in a second 13-storey tower. The Southbank development will also incorporate a 500-person conference centre and spa. A cinema, originally planned as part of Scotch Hall, will be moved to the Southbank and will now have eight screens.
The scheme also allows for the provision of a considerable volume of additional retail and commercial space in the Scotch Hall phase. The need for the Southbank centre has emerged because of a huge response from retailers, according to Edward Holdings.
A three-storey anchor retail unit and 20 other units in a two-storey building will be connected to Scotch Hall at ground and first floor level. An additional six-storey retail unit will also be built.
In addition, a 13-storey office block, with five levels of car-parking, measuring 11,344 sq m (122,106 sq ft) will be built. Over 600 car-parking spaces will be provided.
A further 79 rooms will be added to the four-star hotel, bringing the total up to 183. A new vehicular bridge will be built as part of the development, connecting the Dublin Road on the south side of the river to the traditional shopping areas on the north side at Merchant’s Quay/Steam Packet Quay.
A pedestrian bridge across the River Boyne already forms part of the plans for the Scotch Hall scheme. The two developments will, between them, provide around 400 meters of quayside pedestrian walkways lined with cafés, bars and other facilities, according to the developers.
I have a big oul soft spot for Douglas Wallace, these buildings might not be their best work but it’s still pretty tasty when weighed up against the likes of Anthony Reddy’s Barrow Street atrocity and I ain’t a big fan of it’s neighbours either – in fact any high-rise proposed by Treasury Holdings.
My only ‘but’ about the project however is, 27-storeys…in Drogheda??? I suppose there is the argument that it doesn’t really matter about the scale as long as it fits – but still, I dunno, the jury’s out on this one for a while.That all said Gerry Barrett continues to be one of the most innovative developers in the country. And the project still looks better than its colleagues a little further south.
27 stories seems a bit much for Drogheda, but its probably an over-estimate so that what the planners tell them to knock 7 stories off of it, the developers say “ok”. How far is it from the Railway Station?
@crc wrote:
27 stories seems a bit much for Drogheda, but its probably an over-estimate so that what the planners tell them to knock 7 stories off of it, the developers say “ok”. How far is it from the Railway Station?
5 mins on foot.
The locals are up in arms as they are already very concerned that the Scotch Hall Development will have a detrimental effect on the Main street.
Why object to restaurants and an eight screen cinema and more bars and more shops? And more people in the new bars! Sounds pretty cool to me. We just caught up with the rest of Europe by losing the Miles… maybe this is the next step.
looks good but i really can’t see this one getting the go ahead. not at that height. pitty.
@mickeydocs wrote:
5 mins on foot.
The locals are up in arms as they are already very concerned that the Scotch Hall Development will have a detrimental effect on the Main street.
Well the head of the Chamber of commerce is, but his shop is on the main street (versted interest anyone). Truth is Drogheda is losing trade hand over fist to Blanchardstown, Dundalk and Pavillions, Swords in terms of shopping. And considering the massive growth in the town the shopping infrastructure hasn’t changed in over 20 years – the local Dunnes and Tesco (West Street) are both small 1960s relics. Downtown bars are either for 18-25 year olds or the 50+s. And don’t get me started on restaurants – suffice to say choice is exceedingly limited. Drogheda’s poulation is now 35,000+ and with a raft of rezoning this population will grow larger over the next few years.
Drogheda has a chance to become a destination for shopping, dining and drinking with this plan if it is carried out to plan. It would be lovely to sit Boyneside during the summer on a boardwalk having a pint before going for a meal (all far removed from traffic) in a cosmopolitan enviroinment. Why should the cities get all the fun?
Don’t let it become another dull dormitary town.
@Rory W wrote:
Well the head of the Chamber of commerce is, but his shop is on the main street (versted interest anyone). Truth is Drogheda is losing trade hand over fist to Blanchardstown, Dundalk and Pavillions, Swords in terms of shopping. And considering the massive growth in the town the shopping infrastructure hasn’t changed in over 20 years – the local Dunnes and Tesco (West Street) are both small 1960s relics. Downtown bars are either for 18-25 year olds or the 50+s. And don’t get me started on restaurants – suffice to say choice is exceedingly limited. Drogheda’s poulation is now 35,000+ and with a raft of rezoning this population will grow larger over the next few years.
Drogheda has a chance to become a destination for shopping, dining and drinking with this plan if it is carried out to plan. It would be lovely to sit Boyneside during the summer on a boardwalk having a pint before going for a meal (all far removed from traffic) in a cosmopolitan enviroinment. Why should the cities get all the fun?
Don’t let it become another dull dormitary town.
No disrespect but Drogheda is already a dull dormitary town. Take the train into Dublin in the morning and you will realise that the upwardly mobile work in Dublin.
As someone who has been living in Drogheda for the best part of a year I must admit to having an affinity for the place, and would completely agree that the town is desperately devoid of any options in relation to shopping and leisure related facilities. However, imho, Scotch Hall is very badly located. Furthermore a very substantial portion of the local inhabitants are already up in arms over Scotch Hall, and the latest developments are just adding fuel to the fire. Especially as there has been a complete lack of any desire to engage the local population in any kind of discourse.
Something tells me this project is doomed to failure.@mickeydocs wrote:
No disrespect but Drogheda is already a dull dormitary town. Take the train into Dublin in the morning and you will realise that the upwardly mobile work in Dublin.
Thanks for the complement been on that train into Dublin for the last 3 years, feel like I’ve aged 30 years to be honest (leave house at 7.18 – home at night 19:45). It is indeed a dull domitary town but wouldn’t it be nice if commuter people wanted to shop and socialise in Drogheda rather than Dublin?
Got to say – I’ve yet to see a town in ireland that makes less of its advantages than Drogheda. So many good individual buildings but the town still feels like a dump – quite depressing.. thank god for Clarke’s Bar
@Rory W wrote:
Thanks for the complement been on that train into Dublin for the last 3 years, feel like I’ve aged 30 years to be honest (leave house at 7.18 – home at night 19:45). It is indeed a dull domitary town but wouldn’t it be nice if commuter people wanted to shop and socialise in Drogheda rather than Dublin?
How about leave house at 7:00 :(,
I know exactly what you mean about ageing.
The governments regional development is appalling, and I am amazed that local politicians are happy to see their brightest leave for Dublin each morning. Surely the IDA should be sending some industry in the direction of Drogheda?
Is it true that most of the elected representatives live in Dundalk?Okay you’re the CEO of the European arm of some japanese or american firm…
You have been directed to set up in Ireland
Needless to say you, your family and most of your top execs want to be were the action is – where the cultural events are, where the shopping is, where the restaurants are…
Do you set up in Drogheda?
I know I wouldn’t@Paul Clerkin wrote:
Got to say – I’ve yet to see a town in ireland that makes less of its advantages than Drogheda. So many good individual buildings but the town still feels like a dump – quite depressing.. thank god for Clarke’s Bar
I’d agree with that. It’s unfortunate as Drogheda has lots going for it, esp architecturally, yet it still has a name as being something of a kip to put it maybe too strongly. But that’s the impression that’s generated by people in the North East overall; they tend to describe it as a poundshop Mecca for some reason which perhaps is unfair.
Its unusual location and narrow and hilly streets tends to make it worse rather than better; if it was in the UK it’d be decribed as ‘charming’ or ‘endearing’ – here it’s just ‘pokey’ apparently, and is a ‘nightmare for parking’ town, heaven forbid – often makes it a no go area for many as a result.
There’s a general impression of ‘ah sure there’s nothing in Drogheda’, and considering its proximity to Dublin it tends to be worth going the extra few miles for whatever it is you want and by-passing the town altogether unless you actually live there.Maybe things will improve with the acres of housing going up all round and a resulting demand for new services. As for a tall building I think Drogheda is capable of absorbing one or two on it’s outer fringes like the location above – known as a town of spires, I think it’s not only acceptable but desirable that a modern statement be made too, esp in such an interesting valley location.
Graham Hickey wrote:I’d agree with that. It’s unfortunate as Drogheda has lots going for it, esp architecturally, yet it still has a name as being something of a kip to put it maybe too strongly. But that’s the impression that’s generated by people in the North East overall]Drogheda is a town with huge potential – probably why Gerry Barrett is promoting this scheme – infact there is no where else in Ireland with its combination of factors (close to Dublin – but not too close, port and beaches nearby, on the line to Belfast, great connectivity but al;so has distinct community spirit). It just has to look beyond its past, but also not to see itself as a dormitary for Dublin. The only example I can think of off hand is that It could be the Irish equivalent of Freemantle to Perth Australia, both distinct but complementary.
Very, very nice, of course those of you from dublin are being critical and negative about it, as you are with any development outside of dublin. Envy, the though of somewhere else in ireland getting something really does seem to piss you of, dublin and its people are like spoilt children, given whatever they want when they want it, no expence spared, and as for the rest of ireland, well!
I think the idea of the new building in Drogheda is a brilliant idea.
A: It will create new jobs for Drogheda which are needed
B:It will bring people to Drogheda who will stay and eat out in our many pubs/resturants
C:It will show how Drogheda has developed in the past 10 years into a new and modern town
D:Many of our photo clubs will be able to capture views of all the out side or Drogheda.Although there are many views I for one agree that it is the best way to a bright future for our town
Vincent Murray from Drogheda
Rory W wrote:Drogheda is a town with huge potential – probably why Gerry Barrett is promoting this scheme – infact there is no where else in Ireland with its combination of factors (close to Dublin – but not too close, port and beaches nearby, on the line to Belfast, great connectivity but al]Drogheda also has very many factors that go against it. There is no third level college in the town. There is a serious crime problem. The drug problem is also well out of hand. Traffic problems are excessive for such a small town. Water quality is awful. Amenities are very limited. The cultural life of the town is noticeable by its absence. The prices in the town for property and for general goods is scandalous.
Drogheda’s potential is entirely based on proximity to Dublin. It is already a dormitory town and this will only be accentuated by developments such as the proposed 23 storey appartment block.
Comparing Drogheda to Fremantle gave me a laugh. Bettystown doesn’t actually compare with the beaches of western australia 🙂
BTW, have you been to Fremantle?
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