Major facelift for Dublin
The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) has announced a £100m redevelopment plan forits headquarters in the city suburb of Ballsbridge, which aims to generate extra revenue and secure the future of the Dublin Horse Show at its traditional venue.
The plan involves an extensive refurbishment of the ageing Anglesea Stand in the RDS arena, together with the development of commercial offices, multi-purpose stabling, corporate entertainment facilities and exhibition halls.
Planning permission is to be sought later this month for the project, which will occupy threeacres of the valuable 42-acre site in Ballsbridge.
According to RDS chief executive Shane Cleary, the redevelopment “will significantly increase revenue”, providing the society with more money to spend on events such as the historic Dublin Horse Show.
No date has been set for a start on the redevelopment, as that will depend on the reaction of Dublin City Council to the planning application. While the RDS claims that the impact of the construction on the local community will beminimal, residents and planners may take a different view.
If the project is approved, the RDS will fund the first phase of the work from its cash reserves.
| Read the full story in this week’s Horse & Hound (15 May), or click here to subscribe and enjoy Horse & Hound delivered to your door every week. |
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