Plans for the restoration of the Clerys Building in Dublin's O'Connell Street have been lodged, and a new luxury building is in the works.

The site, which officially includes property on 18-27 O'Connell Street Lower, Sackville Place, Earl Place and Earl Street North, will be repurposed and turned into "retail, office, café, restaurant and bar development."

According to The Irish Independent, the plans include restoring the iconic original staircase in the building, as well as a rooftop eatery and bar that would look out over one of Dublin's most famous thoroughfares. 

The official planning documents, lodged with Dublin City Council, outline that there will be a "central glazed atrium" running through the building, from the ground to fifth floors, and the "top floor destination area," which will also be for a bar or restaurant.

Other floors in the building will be used for offices, which The Irish Times note will be designed to "attract financial services and high-tech firms."

The plans also include a proposal to remodel the Earl Place property and put in a hotel with 176 bedrooms.

Speaking to The Irish Independent Deirdre Foley of OCS Properties, the company which owns the property, said: "Our vision for this iconic building at the centre of O'Connell Street is a catalyst to restore the street as our most vibrant shopping and social hub for visitors and locals to enjoy and be proud of."

However, former Clerys workers are outraged at the plans, with SIPTU's Ethel Buckley stating that the decision to lodge plans before the outcome of an going case with the Workplace Relations Commission showed "continued breathtaking disregard for even a semblance of decent business practice."

Speaking to The Herald, Maurice Bracken, former employee said "I'm shocked, it will be very disappointing if this is allowed to go ahead. We don't need another hotel on Dublin's main street. I'd be very wary of this."