Dyke Road area set to undergo transformation

The 4.5-acre Dyke Road site – comprising the car-park, Black Box performance area and adjoining lands – will be transformed into a mixed-use development with a strong residential element, the City Council has heard.

Phelim O’Neill, Head of Property at the Land Development Agency (LDA), in a report presented to councillors last week, said that the development would be an extension of the city core, linking regeneration areas.

“The Dyke Road and Sandy Road [proposed developments] can be catalysts for the regeneration of the wider Headford Road and Liosbán areas,” Mr O’Neill stated.

He said that the Dyke Road project was being considered in the context of a cost rental, mixed use, phased scheme with enterprise and amenity elements.

One of the features being considered in the proposed development is a pedestrian/cycle bridge link over the Corrib to NUI Galway.

The Dyke Road project is to contain a so-called ‘mobility hub’ to facilitate a variety of environmentally friendly transport options such as cycling and public transport services.

At a City Council meeting last year, when the €170 million project was first mooted, there was outrage expressed by a number of councillors at suggestions that the development would contain a large element of student accommodation units.

The latest report from the Land Development Agency contains no reference to student accommodation at the site – only referring to ‘a strong residential element’ in the project.

City councillors called for affordable housing rather than social to be the priority for the planned redevelopment of the Dyke Road site.

Described by Chief Executive Brendan McGrath as the most attractive development site in the city as it was fully in Galway City Council’s ownership, the 4.5-acre site is zoned for city centre use which would have at least 30% residential housing.

This housing would be “largely and not exclusively affordable in nature”, Mr McGrath stated.

There would be offices, possibly geared to research and development that could be linked to NUIG and physically linked to the university by a footbridge.

“So you can live on the site and work on the site which is very attractive,” he enthused.

The recreation and amenity value of the Terryland Forest Park would be enhanced by creating bike trails through it from the site, linking to other cycle paths across the city.

He confirmed there would be commercial units, that would be owned by the Land Development Agency and leased by them to help pay for the cost of the project, which was being funded entirely by the LDA. This body was set up to help local authorities regenerate their sites and build housing.

“It has to be developed in phases. The surface carpark which has 540 carpark spaces has to first be established as a mobility hub as there will continue to be a need for carparking. The lower end of the site where the Black Box [Theatre] is won’t be developed until the Black Box is replaced so the Black Box is not going anywhere,” the Chief Executive assured the meeting.

Councillor Donal Lyons (Ind) said initially there was talk of a gallery or exhibition space to be a major part of the regeneration plan and wanted to know why this no longer seemed to the case.

Fellow Independent Cllr Terry O’Flaherty insisted that the residential mix should at least be half affordable housing while Cllr Eddie Hoare said he was opposed to any of the housing being allocated to social tenants.

“This is strategically located in the city and is ideal for young couples and workers in the city trying to get on the property ladder.”

Mr O’Neill of the LDA said it was up to the Council management and councillors to decide on what kind of housing it wanted but there would be no private homes in the development.

They could also include a public arts space under the charter that would be agreed before appointing a design team to draw up a master plan for the site. Mr McGrath said all aspects of the charter were up for consultation.

“Nothing will happen without clarity, certainty and consideration with elected members,” he stressed.

Councillors agreed to move ahead with the plan in conjunction with the LDA.