Dublin’s Capel Street will become car free from next month, after the plan was adopted by councillors this morning.

It will be the largest traffic-free space in the city, longer than both Grafton and Henry Street.

After 17 weeks of weekend trials last summer, Capel Street in the north inner city will become traffic free next month – with just deliveries allowed between 6am and 11am each morning.

The latest feedback found 90% of people were in favour of the move – but some businesses wanted an evening car ban instead - and have warned of potential legal action.

Head of technical services with the city council is Brendan O’Brien.

“Our preference is not to have people opposing us; not to have people dragging us down the High Court,” he said.

“We really do want to work with people and we think this will be successful.”

Director of Services Karl Mitchell told Newstalk that traffic free streets on the southside have created vibrancy that can be replicated.

“The Northside shouldn’t be playing second fiddle to what has been happening on the southside so I think this shouldn’t be seen as a negative,” he said. “It should be seen as a real opportunity.”

DCC Senior Executive Engineer Clare French said a final date for the changes still needs to be finalised – but the street will be pedestrianised at some point in May.

Traffic management staff will be on site for the first two weeks – and the changes will be reviewed at the end of the summer.