PLANS HAVE BEEN lodged with Dublin City Council to repurpose the currently vacant, high profile AIB bank building at the top of O’Connell Street into a bar, restaurant and 20 studio apartments.

In the plans, Sports Bars Management Ltd have lodged the application for the change of use and extension to the four storey over basement building at the former AIB Bank, 37 & 38, O’Connell Street Upper and 74 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.

A design statement lodged with the scheme by Tyndall Architecture+ Design describes the proposals as “an innovative approach to delivering an active and vibrant, commercially viable ground floor use in tandem with the remodelling of redundant upper floor office space as much needed, high quality housing accommodation for smaller households”.

Conservation Architect, Paul Tyndall states that the proposal for exclusively studio apartments is in full compliance with the new guidelines and is especially appropriate given the city centre location “and the chronic lack of appropriate and affordable accommodation for the small household demographic”.

The report states that there is currently a need for long-term residential units in the city centre to accommodate small households of 1-2 persons.

The L-shaped site lies opposite the Rotunda Hospital and Gate Theatre and Mr Tyndall states that the change of use application is fully in the spirit of the Dublin City Council policies concerning “the creation of character areas/quarters and will further reinforce the emerging food and beverage hub that is focused on the north end of O’Connell Street and Parnell Street”.

The building is a protected structure and the Tyndall report states that proposals retain the existing building structure and facade, preserving the historic streetscape and the established building line on both O’Connell Street Upper and Parnell Street.

In his report, Mr Tyndall states that the proposed development will enhance the area’s housing stock, activate the ground floor streetscape and reinforce an emerging character area in the North City. 

He says: “This can only be seen as a positive development for the North inner city of Dublin.”

The plans follow the City Council recently granting planning permission to the D1 Collection Ltd for a 44-bedroom aparthotel across four floors at 14-17 O’Connell Street Lower.

In a submission in support of the application, ‘We are Dublin Town’ ceo, Richard Guiney told the Council that “we believe this development will make a clear, positive contribution to O’Connell Street’s renewal and reputation”.

Mr Guiney stated that the scheme will bring life back to the upper floors with high-quality accommodation and a staffed, well managed operation that adds steady, year-round activity.