World City Icons.

If they had to stay then it’d be pretty cool if the area was developed along the lines of Chicago’s famous Navy Pier. With year round amusements etc.
With the chimneys converted into what else but a bungee rocket!!!
Keep me out of the pub on a sunday
[ATTACH]7093[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]7094[/ATTACH]

@PVC King wrote:

The concrete base

The paint finish

Tha gaudy lights at night for air safety

Ok; repaint and light it better, the base isn’t really visible and we all agree, they are lovely.

As for redevoping that area, I am sure the current port area is more likely to get the old navy pier treatment, not least because it will continue to be where cruise ships dock and the area around the pidgeon house has the sewerage works and is an important bird habitat. It would be good though if something interesting was done with the old power station.

Was there not talk of converting it to a Science Centre? It would be perfect. Maybe build a observation tower on the top too?

Agreed, a lick of paint and a clever lighting system installed , it would be cool looking. As for the colour, I would pick Dark and Sky Blue. 😀

I think a lot of Dubliners living on the east side of the city would be sad to see the chimneys go. They ARE landmarks for the city..sure Dublin Tourism even have them on postcards :p If/when the powerplant is moved from Poolbeg, running a lift up one of them and having a discreet viewing point build built within the top of one of the chimneys would afford phenomonal views of Dublin.
Also, as has been pointed out before, they are very elegant structures and their slender build, the proportions between their height and the distance between them and the package as a whole indicates that some care went into making them more than mere industrial stacks.

Re. Proposed addition to the Record of Protected Structures of Twin ESB Chimneys at Poolbeg Generating Station, Pigeon House Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4.

Introduction
Following a request from the South East Area Committee a report was prepared to assess the significance of the Twin ESB Chimneys at Poobeg and whether the structures should be added to the Record of Protected Structures. A survey, history and full assessment was carried out. This concluded that while the Poolbeg chimneys are considered to be of a certain level of architectural, social and historical significance, they are not considered to be of sufficient value within the meaning of Part IV of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and therefore should not be added to the Record of Protected Structures (See photo in folders).

Request for Addition
Councillor Dermot Lacey proposed a motion to the South East Area Committee to ‘take all steps necessary to protect the Twin ESB Chimneys at Poolbeg as part of our industrial heritage and to initiate steps to have them included on the list of protected structures’.

Dublin City Development Plan 2005 – 2011
Zone 7 – To provide for the protection and creation of industrial uses, and facilitate opportunities for employment creation.

Planning History
2809/06: Alterations to previously approved extension (3155/05) at Poolbeg 220kv GIS Station.
3144/05: Alterations and extension to Poolbeg 220kv GIS station.
1088/05: Development of a prefabricated garage shed 2.8m tall.
2309/99: The construction of housing to enclose ion exchange plant at Poolbeg Generating Station.
3043/97: Erection of two water storage tanks and an associated pump house.
0588/97: Modifications to the previously approved Poolbeg Generating Station Extension (2674/91).
0374/94: Modify the Berthing Jetty on the site
0290/94: Construction of a chlorine monitor building.
1929/93: Replace the existing site security fence with new palisade fencing.
1152/93: Erect new entrance/reception building.
2674/91: Erect and operate additional generating plant as an extension to the existing Poolbeg Generating Station.

Site Location

The chimneys are located on the northern side of the ESB Poolbeg Generating Station overlooking the River Liffey.

Summary Description of Structure
The two chimneys form one component of a complex of late 20th century industrial structures relating to the production of electricity. The twin red and white chimneystacks measure 680ft/207m in height and were constructed in two phases between 1969 and 1977.

Assessment of Special Interest Under the Planning & Development Act 2000
Architectural: The chimneys are functional industrial structures similar to other industrial chimneys of this era. They are not exemplars of a building style or type. They are considered to be of some architectural interest as structures, which due to their height and location have become prominent landmarks in Dublin Bay. The chimneys are located in a highly industrial area of Dublin Bay but their height means that they have become part of the Dublin skyline visible from many parts of the city and also the Wicklow Mountains. However its present prominence will be diminished by upcoming developments in the docklands area.
Social: The chimneys are of social interest as they have over the past 30 years become a focus of sentiment to the local community around Dublin Bay. Its landmark status means that it is visible to residents of Dublin Bay across the city and has become synonymous with Dublin and Dublin Bay.
Historical: The chimneys are of historical interest tracing the continued production of electricity on the site from the late 20th century to today, beginning with the nearby Pigeon House (1903), the Poolbeg generating station (1969-1978) and the more recent gas turbine station (1999). However their significance is part of a grouping/setting of associated industrial buildings rather than in isolation.

Recommendation
The Poolbeg chimneys are considered to be of a certain level of architectural, social and historical significance. However in isolation they are not considered to be of sufficient value within the meaning of Part IV of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and therefore should not be added to the Record of Protected Structures.

It is recommended that the whole complex be reassessed on the cessation of electricity generation at the present Poolbeg station in order to carry out an overall assessment of the station.

Patricia Hyde
Senior Planner