The Liberties is located to the south of the River Liffey, west of Dublin city centre.
The 136 hectare area is rich in cultural and architectural heritage and is home to the Guinness Brewery, the city’s two cathedrals and several national institutions.
However, there are many enclaves of poor quality housing, plus derelict and poorly maintained buildings. The poor standard of new apartment blocks has significantly detracted from the historic streetscapes and led local people to oppose new development.
Future improvements to public transport infrastructure are planned to increase connectivity to the area and a number of large sites will soon become available for redevelopment. Dublin City Council’s brief was to prepare a development guidance plan and encourage investment in The Liberties.