[dropcap]Planning[/dropcap] permission has been granted for the construction of over 900 student bed spaces beside the Point Village as part of the ongoing regeneration of the docklands.
Spaces for 935 students were planned across two separate seven storey blocks. One of the two blocks will have 589 bedspaces, with the other having 346 bedspaces alongside commercial retail floor space and community facilities.
The 2.38-hectare site, the Point Campus, is within walking distance of colleges in the area, such as Trinity, DIT and NCI.
The site was sold by Declan McDonald of receiver PwC, alongside land owners NAMA and CIÉ.
2245 student bed spaces have commenced construction in Dublin City according to analysis by Future Analytics.
It’s estimated that there is currently an unmet demand of around 25,000 student bed spaces in Dublin City, according to the Higher Education Authority, and that there may be less than 45,000 beds available for almost 200 thousand students by 2024.
DCU have announced the construction of 560 on-campus student accommodations at the Glasnevin campus as part of the college’s infrastructural development plan.
With regards to off-campus accommodation, DCUSU VP for Welfare Cody Byrne said that, while overcrowding is a problem and more
can be done, he is hopeful for what can be done over the next two years.
The Point Campus is part of an ongoing attempt to develop the Strategic Development Zone of the docklands. First approved by An Bord Pleanála on 16th May 2014, development of the SDZ began in March 2015 with the granting of planning permission for a mixed use scheme of residential apartments and office space at number 76 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, according to Dublin City Council.
NAMA have expressed an interest in 75% of development blocks in the SDZ, with 1637 residential units in planning and 345 residential units currently under construction.
Niall O’Donoghue
Image Credit: Rebecca Lumley
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