DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL has officially signed off on the contract to acquire the Camden Yard site on Kevin Street, which is set to be the council’s new main office.

The site is being acquired to relocate the Council’s offices from Wood Quay, leaving behind the existing quay buildings which were completed in 1981 and 1994 and which controversially involved the destruction of the remains of a Viking settlement.

The Wood Quay site will be redeveloped for more than 500 public homes.

The Council’s Chief executive Richard Shakespeare confirmed the news today in an email sent to councillors today.

“Following the completion of the 10-week due diligence process, Dublin City Council has now signed a contract to purchase the Camden Yard site on Kevin Street. This is an important milestone,” Shakespeare said in the email to councillors which was seen by The Journal.

“The acquisition enables us to progress plans for the development of a new Civic Offices at Camden Yard, designed to modern, energy-efficient standards, alongside the delivery of up to 300 public homes on the site.”

Shakespeare has previously said that the council needs to move for sustainability reasons, as the cost of retrofitting its current civic offices to meet its climate commitments has risen as high as €400 million, according to reports.

A fast-approaching government target was announced in 2020 for all public buildings to achieve a minimum building energy rating (BER) of B by 2030. In 2019, the Civic Offices’ BER was D1, though it’s unclear whether that has since changed.

In comparison, The Camden Yard site on Kevin Street has an A3 BER.

“As outlined previously, relocating from the existing Civic Offices at Wood Quay would also unlock the potential for in excess of 500 public homes on the Wood Quay lands,” Shakespeare said.

“This approach supports both our climate objectives and the city’s significant housing needs.”

Shakespeare added that work “will now begin on the detailed design, planning, and sequencing required to advance this project”, and that updates will be provided “as key stages are reached”.