Protestors outside Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre have said Dublin doesn’t need “more offices” amid plans for a redevelopment. 

The Save Stephen's Green Shopping Centre campaign at the front entrance this afternoon to protest Dublin City Council granting planning permission for a complete redevelopment of the site. 

The €100 million plan would remove the shopping centre’s iconic white facade and replace it with rectangular glass windows.

Protestors today said the redevelopment would damage the face of Dublin’s city centre. 

The proposed St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre redevelopment. Image: Davy

One protestor, Alina, argued that the current facade "harmonises very well with the rest of the street".

"It's owned by a private group," she said. "But does that really matter when it's still going to be a public building?"

DTLD Ltd, who first submitted the plans to DCC, acknowledged in its proposed changes that Stephen's Green Shopping Centre is a a local landmark, but argued this was not due to the quality of its architecture and stated that the shopping centre is not a "Protected Structure".

The proposal further argued that most unit sizes in the shopping centre are too small, particularly those on the upper floors.

Planning consultants John Spain & Associates told DCC that the existing building "has become outdated" and the proposal seeks to enhance a high quality shopping centre and office facility.

Alina said she agreed the shopping centre could be improved with renovations, but a complete redesign was a step too far.

"The circulation in the shopping centre is not very well done," she said. "It takes up a lot of space that's also not used.

"But right now, we're focusing on preserving the facade and the way it looks and then renovating what's inside.

“We definitely don't think that a lot of this public space should be taken away in favour of offices that are probably not even going to be fully filled.” 

Protestors at Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. Image: Ellen Kenny

Former Irish Times Environmental Editor Frank McDonald said the shopping centre is a “sensitive location”. 

“It's right at the top of Grafton Street,” he said. “Grafton Street is an architectural conservation area, which means that some respect has to be shown to it. 

“But even more important than that, St Stephen's Green Park itself is a national monument of the rank as Newgrange and the Rock of Cashel. 

Mr McDonald, who previously lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the redevelopment, said Stephen's Green Shopping Centre "needs to be protected".

“The scheme that has been proposed simply does not do that," he said.

“We need to reject this terrible scheme that would do immense damage to this part of Dublin and for what for? More offices that we don't need.” 

Saving St Stephen's Green

Stephen's Green Shopping Centre first began as a serious of individual properties bought by the the Slazenger family in 1966. During the recession of the late 1970s, the small shops were rented out under a scheme known as "the Gaiety Green".

At the weekends, this was marketed as the Dandelion Market, with vendors from all over Dublin - and music from the likes of U2 in its heyday.

Eventually, the site was put up for sale and in 1988, construction on the new shopping centre was completed.

The facade or ornate ironwork and glass was first described as "a Mississippi steamboat moored on the edge of the Green".

The interior architecture of the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. Image: Vitalli / Alamy Stock Photo

While it has only been in Dublin for a relatively short 40 years, many locals feel the shopping centre is an iconic structure.

One local who remained anonymous said the structure from the 80s feels "timeless" and agreed with the protestors' demands.

"We've lost too much of Dublin as it is," he said.

"If you want to make it more like London or New York or Paris, that's great, but that should be done in terms of transport - it shouldn't be done in terms of more bland glass boxes with steel structure inside.

"If we make Dublin the same as everywhere else, it won't be a tourist town anymore."

Appeals

One trader Emmett Rodgers has already made an appeal to An Bord Pleanála in an effort to stop the reconstruction of the shopping centre.

Mr Rodgers, who has operated out of Tribe in the shopping centre since 1992, said: “I see Dublin losing another bit of its unique identity to developers."

“Internally, it needs work, but people still come in on a daily basis to take old photos of the beautiful interior of the shopping centre and the iconic clock," he said.

Along with Mr Rodgers and Mr McDonald, An Taisce has also lodged appeals to block construction.

The Save Stephen's Green Campaign has called on people to sign their petition and make submissions to An Bord Pleanála against the redevelopment before the February 14th deadline. 

It costs €50 to make a submission to An Bord Pleanála. The campaign team have invited people to message their Instagram account if they need financial assistance.