Ice job: Olympic-standard arena for Liffey Valley
South Dublin County Council has granted planning permission for an additional 22,000sq m net retail space expansion of the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.
Asset and development management company Hines said the plans include the addition of “a major new public space equivalent to a typical European-scale urban plaza”.
It said the ice arena would have capacity for 2,500 spectators, and will be capable of hosting international ice skating competitions, ice hockey matches, and ice entertainment performances.
Brian Moran, senior managing director of Hines Ireland, described the development as “a visionary plan” which will “redefine Liffey Valley as both a shopping and retail experience and also as a leisure and recreation destination”.
“Today’s decision is a welcome endorsement of our aim to ensure strategic forward planning and the sustainable development of Liffey Valley into the future.
“For the past two years, we have been developing a new vision of Liffey Valley via a series of works in the centre itself and the new western end extension. This new additional public space will provide an additional mixed leisure entertainment, commercial and retail extension creating an active public environment, which fully resonates with the local community,” he said.
However, South Dublin County Council removed a proposed multi-storey car park when granting planning permission.
Mr Moran said Hines would review the basis for the council omitting the parking and “work towards an improved solution as soon as we can”.
