Areas of Quay Street, Mill Street and the Harbour will become a high quality integrated public space, which seamlessly links the town.

The development, which will turn the area into a premier destination, is the signature project of the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme.

The 19,300 square metre site will include a multi-purpose plaza area and linear park providing a focal centre point for an enhanced leisure and tourist offering, including markets, events and festivals.

The works at Quay Street and the Harbour, on both sides of its famous viaduct, will redefine Balbriggan’s beach and coastline.

Change of use of the former RNLI Boathouse and the development of new harbour buildings is designed to generate increased social and commercial activity at the Harbour and throughout the town. 

New public amenities will include toilets and changing facilities.

The project will also include enhancement works to the River Bracken, new surfacing and increased seating, green and play spaces as well as the redesign of parking, shared surfaces and pedestrian and cyclist priority areas.  

The Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan aims to create a more attractive, connected place where people want to live, work, visit and do business.

The ambitious vision contained in the Our Balbriggan Project was the result of an historic community engagement which saw more than 25% of residents outline their preferences for the future of the town.

Feedback received from the people of Balbriggan, demonstrated strong support for reimagining the Harbour and Quay Street area.

Since 2019, the €50million Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme has been tasked with and is making huge progress on key infrastructure and social projects.

Under the plan, Fingal County Council has made a number of strategic property acquisitions, as well as driving a number of social, community and local economic development projects.

These include planned multi-million euro developments at Quay Street, the Harbour and beach, 2-4 Dublin Street, Bridge Street and Millpond Park, Boathouse & Bath House – Coastal Improvements, Railway Street and Station Plaza, allied with numerous community initiatives.

The unique, sustainable, public open space at Quay Street and the Harbour in the heart of Ireland’s youngest town is the largest project to be brought forward under the Our Balbriggan 2019-2030 Rejuvenation Project.  The up lighting of the famous viaduct arches in 2022 signalled the commencement of this process.

The transformational project in Ireland’s youngest town was planned to 2025, the current review process extends this to 2030, creating further development and funding opportunities.

The €15million Quay Street and Harbour project is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and Fingal County Council.

Some 75% of funding for the project will come from the URDF, with the remainder from Fingal County Council’s capital spending programme.

Phase One has seen works at the Upper Town Centre Car Park at Mill Street completed.

Sixty-seven spaces are available, including three universally accessible spaces.

Six EV charger points will also be provided at a later date.

Planting of trees and further provision of new public lighting will follow at this location by the end of the year.

The works are expected to be completed by December, 2025.  It is planned that this is an 18 month project.

Phase 1 - Town Car Park works – June 2024 - September 2024. 

Phase 2 - Plaza area including Harbour Road & Link Road – June 2024 - August 2025.

Phase 2 (a) Harbour Block & Buildings – July 2024 – March 2025 

Phase 2 (b) Toilet & kiosk Block – August 2024 – March 2025 

Phase 2 (c) RNLI Boathouse – October 2024 – May 2025 

Phase 2 (d) Plaza – June 2024 – January 2025 

Phase 2 (e) Link Road, Viaduct – October 2024 – August 2025 

Phase 2 (f) Harbour Road – February 2025 – July 2025 

Phase 3 – River Works and ancillary areas - July 2024 - October 2024

Phase 4 (a) - Mill Street enhancements – August 2024 – September 2024 

Phase 4 (b) - Quay Street enhancements – May 2025 – August 2025

Phase 5 - Greening, Gardens, Play – July 2024 – September 2025

Phase 6 – Substantial completion, snagging – Completion December 2025.

Vehicle and pedestrian access will be provided throughout these areas at all times.  There will be traffic management in place over the course of the construction period, notices on these will be regularly updated.

Yes.  Harbour Road & the Link Road will be clearly distinguishable from a normal road surface, by a shared surface material, indicating it’s primary use in the future as a pedestrian and cyclist priority zone. Alternative vehicular access at this location will be encouraged.  Access will be permitted for residents and to the Harbour are where required.

Work will start on resurfacing of the Link Road and at the Viaduct in 2025.

Commuters using Balbriggan Railway Station are encouraged to continue to use alternative car parking locations to Mill Steet.

If possible, they should walk, cycle, or use other public transport to access the station.

All relevant road signage will be provided.

There will be access to Quay Street provided throughout the works. Traffic management will be in place on Quay Street in 2025.

It is not envisaged parking for permit holders will be impacted in the early stages of works. A plan will be put in place for those who have permits, up to and including amendments to these, to allow for parking at other locations in the town.

There will be access to the Harbour, for those who require it, throughout the works and post its completion.

There will be access to Balbriggan Beach provided throughout the works and post its completion.

John Cradock Ltd. The company has operated in the Irish Construction Industry for 30 years and has developed into one of the country’s leading civil engineering and building contractors.

The company has 20 years’ experience in the delivery of high quality, award winning public realm projects, throughout Ireland, including  its acclaimed work at Market Square, Dundalk.

The planning conditions stipulate construction works shall not exceed appropriate noise thresholds. No heavy construction equipment or machinery (to include pneumatic drills, construction vehicles, generators, etc) shall be operated on or adjacent to the construction site before 8.00am or after 7.00pm, Monday to Friday, and before 8.00am and after 1.00pm on Saturdays.

The planning conditions stipulate that the development shall be operated to ensure that air emissions do not result in significant impairment of, or significant interference with, amenities or the environment beyond the site boundary. The use of diesel generators shall not be permitted. Dust monitoring results shall be available on request.

The following working hours shall apply: 8.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 1.00pm on Saturday.  There will be no work on Sunday or public holidays.

Use of and access to the Harbour will be facilitated throughout the works.  

Planning was approved in October 2022 by Fingal County Council following a period of consultation in the previous 12 months. 100 Submissions were received as part of the planning process, just over half of these related to parking & active travel with the remaining submissions categorised into play (safety), Biodiversity, Ecology, and the River Bracken.  

As a consequence of the submissions received the council made a number of modifications to its original proposal, including allowing for the retention of on street car parking on the southern side of Quay Street and the southern side of Mill Street and some additional spaces to the Town Car Park.  Detailed design post planning inserted timber fenced areas around new play areas. Biodiversity, Ecology and the River Bracken have been fully taken into account in the design, phasing and planned planting works.

Contractor John Craddock Ltd is responsible for traffic management.

Contractors John Craddock Ltd is responsible for site security.

Contractor John Craddock Ltd is responsible for hoardings, fencing and site signage.

Playground equipment, plaques, Fingal County Council benches, gates, signage, etc will be removed, repurposed where feasible, stored and reused on Quay Street, Harbour and its Environs by Fingal County Council.

This section of the website will be updated periodically including additional Questions & Answers where they arise.

There will be 4 new play areas in the final design, 3 of which have timber enclosures for younger age groups and 1 musical play area for all ages. The bespoke wooden train, station ticket house and carousel will be reused in the new design.

Fingal County Council welcomes the DART+ Coastal North Railway Order Application which was submitted to An Bord Pleanála on 12/07/2024.

It is noted that some of the work locations including a proposed works compound at Quay Street can’t be accommodated and the Council will have further engagement with Irish Rail on this and some other matters to explore alternative options. Fingal County Council will also be making a formal submission to the Application to An Bord Pleanala.

Work on the Our Balbriggan Project continues at Quay Street and the Harbour area and is progressing well. We look forward to the transformation being available for all to enjoy