Dublin Airport City

[David Cochrane]

The Dublin Airport Authority has announced plans for what it describes as a new city to be built near the existing terminal complex.

The DAA wants to build a €4bn development over 140ha to the east of the airport, comprising mainly office space.

The development has yet to get planning permission and funding must also be arranged.

From RTE News

Is this really the best use of DAA's money and time? Shouldn't they be working to improve the airport, rather than becoming property developers?

They can't manage getting people from check-in to the bleedin' aircraft without what feels like a walk to Meath. And with the property market about to go titsup, is this more bad timing?

[johnfás]

Presumably they're planning it as an additional income to supplement the finances of the company. Provided they have correctly investigated their market there is no reason why they shouldn't do this. Look at the success Shannon has had with business developments around the airport. If successful it would (i) Provide additional income for the airport and (ii) Presumably they would be seeking companies to locate there which would bring more traffic through the airport. If they were successful they would make more money on two fronts.

[Edo]

The Dublin Airport Authority has announced plans for what it describes as a new city to be built near the existing terminal complex.

The DAA wants to build a €4bn development over 140ha to the east of the airport, comprising mainly office space.

The development has yet to get planning permission and funding must also be arranged.

From RTE News

Is this really the best use of DAA's money and time? Shouldn't they be working to improve the airport, rather than becoming property developers?

They can't manage getting people from check-in to the bleedin' aircraft without what feels like a walk to Meath. And with the property market about to go titsup, is this more bad timing?

Spot on Dave - I'd much prefer the DAA to stick to running the Airport too - Is the DAA in state hands , semi state or totally private?

[Sligoboy]

The Dublin Airport Authority has announced plans for what it describes as a new city to be built near the existing terminal complex.

The DAA wants to build a €4bn development over 140ha to the east of the airport, comprising mainly office space.

The development has yet to get planning permission and funding must also be arranged.

From RTE News

Is this really the best use of DAA's money and time? Shouldn't they be working to improve the airport, rather than becoming property developers?

They can't manage getting people from check-in to the bleedin' aircraft without what feels like a walk to Meath. And with the property market about to go titsup, is this more bad timing?

They obviously haven't heard that the property market is in the toilet, or maybe they have lots and lots of tax to write off?

[David Cochrane]

Understandably so Johnfas,

But by developing a business district at Dublin Airport, would it not result in the collapse of the business rental market? There's a huge amount of office space in central Dublin which is still available, developing 140ha at Dublin Airport seems a bit much. There's an office block at Liffey Valley which has been beside the N4/M50 junction which has been almost-empty for years. I can't see how DAA can justify there is an actual demand for this kind of thing.

And not everyone will be commuting to Dublin Airport via Aircraft (!) will the metro be able to handle the additional passenger capacity of workers travelling to work?

And what about additional traffic on the M1 and M50 - has this all been accounted for? Considering the difficulty IKEA had with getting permission in Ballymun.

The M50 is undergoing works to increase it's capacity at present, will this be completely undermined by more development close to it?

[David Cochrane]

Executives based at the Dublin Airport City would have a high-speed people mover

What the hell is that? Will people be shot from a cannon from their office block to a big landing pad near the departures hall???*

* that would be sooo cool

[Aindriu]

Understandably so Johnfas,

But by developing a business district at Dublin Airport, would it not result in the collapse of the business rental market? There's a huge amount of office space in central Dublin which is still available, developing 140ha at Dublin Airport seems a bit much.

And not everyone will be commuting to Dublin Airport via Aircraft (!) will the metro be able to handle the additional passenger capacity of workers travelling to work?

Possibly, but we have to get it built first. Talk about them jumping the gun

[seabhcan]

This sounds like a plan to keep the construction industry happy during difficult times.

[Sligoboy]

Presumably they're planning it as an additional income to supplement the finances of the company. Provided they have correctly investigated their market there is no reason why they shouldn't do this. Look at the success Shannon has had with business developments around the airport. If successful it would (i) Provide additional income for the airport and (ii) Presumably they would be seeking companies to locate there which would bring more traffic through the airport. If they were successful they would make more money on two fronts.

That success was without doubt as a result of the special Tax-free designation Shannon received.

Dublin will not have that huge advantage to curb the massive risk involved here.

[johnfás]

But by developing a business district at Dublin Airport, would it not result in the collapse of the business rental market? There's a huge amount of office space in central Dublin which is still available, developing 140ha at Dublin Airport seems a bit much. There's an office block at Liffey Valley which has been beside the N4/M50 junction which has been almost-empty for years. I can't see how DAA can justify there is an actual demand for this kind of thing.

And not everyone will be commuting to Dublin Airport via Aircraft (!) will the metro be able to handle the additional passenger capacity of workers travelling to work?

And what about additional traffic on the M1 and M50 - has this all been accounted for? Considering the difficulty IKEA had with getting permission in Ballymun.

The M50 is undergoing works to increase it's capacity at present, will this be completely undermined by more development close to it?

But surely the primary role of the Dublin Airport Authority is to maximise profits for itself and run as well as possible the airport - which may include auxillary services which both increase their capital and also bring more people through the airport.

The DAA has no role in planning or thinking about the greater public good in Dublin City Centre. That is a role for the planners. Your question was whether or not the Dublin Airport Authority should be embarking on such a venture. My answer to that is that the Dublin Airport Authority should be maximising their potential through whatever makes business sense for the company. What makes sense for broader Dublin is an issue for county planners and so on and is, in essence, an entirely different question. If it isn't , planning persmission should be rejected. But I see no reason why DAA should be criticised for attempting to maximise their asset.