New Aer Lingus HQ

Agreed. Buildngs that are in the situation that Corbalis House is in can actually do more harm than good to the ‘cause’ of heritage: Thousands of people are passing by here every day and seeing this attractive old building which looks like it’s been dropped into the middle of a busy modern airport; it makes it ‘ok’ in the public mind for historic buildings to exist like this, completely devoid of their original setting and context.

If Corbalis House was a particularly rare example of its type – say, with an intact panelled wood interior or something – there might be a case for keeping it (where it is), but as far as I know it is not.

Re moving historic buildings:
I think this was considered once for the former Moravian Meeting Hall on Lr. Kevin Street, when they wanted to widen Kevin Street – the Hall would be moved back. But I think it was ditched when they found out how enormously expensive it would be.

I should also say that I think Corbalis House should be demolished because its setting has been wrecked, not because I agree with an increase of activity at the airport. A forecast increase in air passengers is unsustainable, because airplanes are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions = global warming. Having said that, the proposed new roundy building looks good (if a little like an airplane showroom 😉 ) and anything that helps improve or rationalise the dogs dinner of buildings that is Dublin Airport is obviously a good thing.

Here’s an interesting article from the The Sunday Business Post, published exactly this time two years ago if that says anything about the current proposals…

Aer Lingus may develop head office site
Sunday, November 23, 2003

By Neil Callanan

Aer Lingus is understood to have invited submissions from a number of parties for a possible development of its head office site at Dublin Airport. The site, which measures just under 15 acres, would be suitable for a combination of offices, hotels and retail because of its proximity to the airport.

“In line with our policy of examining every aspect of our business on an ongoing basis, Aer Lingus is currently reviewing strategic options for its property interests at Dublin Airport,” a spokesperson for the company said. “It is a significant asset and it is appropriate that we review it at this time.

“The review is at an early stage and will look at all aspects of the property interests with particular emphasis on medium term strategic options.”

No decision has yet been made on whether the project will go ahead.

A number of sources said that the main building is beginning to show its age and that the airline would have faced a significant bill for refurbishing it and bringing it up to modern standards. Aer Rianta owns the site, but it is held by Aer Lingus on a 99- year lease which dates from the late 1960s. Aer Rianta would almost certainly have to approve any plans before any proposed development could go ahead.

A high-density development on the site would cost at least €250 million to build. However, putting an end va- lue on it would be more diffi- cult, because of the current weakness in the office market.

The end value and the site’s attractiveness to office tenants, retailers and hotel operators would also b e dependent on whether the government proceeds with the planned metro scheme linking the airport with the city centre.

Given the cost of the development, the company could opt to bring in a developer as a joint venture partner for any scheme that gets the go-ahead.

Aer Lingus has been reviewing its property portfolio on an ongoing basis because its work force has fallen from 6,500 prior to September 11, 2001, to around 4,000 now.

The planning department of Fingal County Council told The Sunday Business Post it has not had any talks at this stage with architects about the development.

The local author ity is drawing up a new county development plan and is examining rezoning proposals in the county. It is due to be adopted in 2005.

The airport is currently zoned Objective B under the county development plan “to protect and provide for the development of agriculture and rural amenity”. Aer Lingus does not appear to have made a submission asking for its site to be rezoned in the new country development plan.

Since 2001, Aer Lingus has moved towards becoming a low cost airline. It has sold off its Dawson Street and O’Connell Street sales outlets, and moved towards selling more fares on its website. Much of the turnaround in the company’s fortunes is credited to chief executive and for mer pilot Willie Walsh.

The news of Aer Lingus’s plans for its site comes less than a week after the Vega City consortium unveiled further details of its plans for a 2,500 acre holiday theme park destination close to Dublin Airport.

Universal Entertainment Partners, which includes businessman Louis Maguire, developer Owen O’Callaghan and US company Oz- Central amongst its investors, plans to build and operate three international theme parks at the site.

It also plans to build a new 22-kilometre monorail linking the park with the metro line.

However, Fingal County Council’s planners strongly oppose the park on a number of grounds.

© The Sunday Business Post

Guys as per the article attached from Wednesday 19th October Fingal Independent (current edition) these are old plans 2+ years and are all just pie in the sky.

@KerryBog2 wrote:

I would give that no credence as it is mentioned in the same breath as the Vega City project, a definite non-starter. Eurodisney remains a financial dog, visitor numbers and spend are far below projections despite having 10 times Ireland’s total population in its immediate catchment area, Several smaller theme parks in Ireland have failed.

Just to clarify, I mentioned the Vega City project because it was still being proposed at the time; it bears no relation to the Aer Lingus HQ project. I have written extensively on the HQ since then and never mentioned Vega City again because obviously the plan was dropped. Our online archive is down at the moment so I can’t post the URLs of some of the other pieces I’ve done, such as the DAA’s problems with density and its road plans (Nov 2004) which are reinforced in the Fingal Independent piece. The reality by the way is Aer Lingus was highly unlikely to develop the site itself. It will be either sold back to the DAA, the site will be sold on with planning permission or a developer will be brought in as a joint venture partner. From what I understand Aer Lingus is unsure whether it will even continue to base itself on the site – it may look to lease cheap offices elsewhere. I agree however there’s a strong chance it will never happen, albeit I wrote in January that the plans were due to be lodged within days and had been due to go to Fingal in December. I’m told the resignation of Willie Walsh et al has led to the delay and I suppose it remains to be seen what Dermot Mannion makes of it.

Any news on this proposed project or has it vanished completely?

The Schipol Airport Authority have a number of speculative developments on the site where income is generated by tenants which can then be ploughed back into capital development of the facilities.

I think this issue should be resolved prior to the flotation given the expenditure required at Dublin Airport.

I’m sure it could be; but it would be in the public interest to expedite these plans so as that the airline can quantify the value of these assets prior to floatation should floatation be the chosen option. Indicative trends from accross Europe would indicate a rental value of c€270-320 per square metre at this location.

The site should be sold off NOW and the money transferred out of Aer Lingus to State coffers i.e. back to the taxpayer. A.L. is a dog and the taxpayer will be royally screwed (again) by its privatisation. What buyer would pay any sort of premium for a company alllowed to be run by unions and where a government has a blocking vote / strategic shareholding? Bertie dithered and bungled because he was unwilling to act – all because the majority of the “workers” live in his constituency!