The Irish Times Dublin crane count reached a record 123 in March – the fifth consecutive month when the survey recorded a new high.
However, March's total surveyed from the top floor of the newspaper's offices on Tara Street in Dublin 2 was just two up on February – or less than 2 per cent.
Nevertheless, March’s total is still 21 per cent up on last November’s count when the survey’s record-breaking run started and nearly four times the 31 cranes recorded on February 1st, 2016, when this newspaper’s crane survey was first launched.
There were 74 cranes (down one) visible on the southside in March but clearance work is proceeding on a number of sites with construction expected to start shortly.
Demolished
Among these is the Mark Street site beside the Dart line and close to Tara Street station where the former Europcar car premises has been demolished. It is set to be redeveloped by Tetrarch Capital as a €25 million 184-bedroom aparthotel complex rising to seven storeys and extending to 6,619sq m (71,248sq ft). Preparations for this scheme were halted last week after locals protested against construction-related traffic in the area.
Demolition work has also levelled much of the former Screen cinema at the corner of Hawkins and Townsend streets. The adjacent College House is also now meeting a similar fate.
There were 49 cranes visible on the northside – three up on last month – but this is set to surge as a number of large schemes are due to go on site soon in the north docklands and work on the DIT’s Grangegorman campus in Dublin 7 gathers pace.
The Irish Times will continue to conduct a crane survey once a month to track construction levels in the city centre.
