VISITORS TO DÚN Laoghaire could soon be able to take a dip in a floating swimming pool at the harbour, after planning permission for an ‘urban beach’ was granted.

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s decision to green light the project was taking a couple of days ago, and welcomed this afternoon by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC).

The ‘urban beach’ – part of the town’s 2011 Masterplan – will be constructed at the East pier of the harbour, according to a statement from the company.

Here’s what the proposal looks like:

DLHC Proposal for the 'urban beach' at Dún Laoghaire harbour. DLHC

The plan…includes a floating swimming containing heated and treated seawater, utilising a converted river barge which will be located within the harbour.

The facility will include an urban beach alongside the floating structure…

Changing and toilet facilities, a café, an administration area, and security features are also planned.

It’s all inspired by the urban beach at Arena Badeschiff on the Spree River in Berlin, which looks like this (sometimes):

Arena Berlin Arena Berlin

The floating swimming pool looks something like this:

Tintiucc Tintiucc

Now that planning permission has been granted for the south Dublin version, Dún Laoghaire harbour is on its way to becoming a “marine, leisure and tourist destination of international calibre,” according to DLHC chief Gerry Dunne.

Read: Dún Laoghaire to get floating swimming pool and urban beach>

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