MAJOR changes in public policy are required to protect Dublin's architectural heritage, according to a report prepared by the city's chamber of commerce.
Despite "significant losses in recent years, it says the city still has an "impressive endowment" of historic buildings and their maintenance is "a key element in positioning Dublin as a European capital of note".
Apart from making the city more attractive for inward investors, the report says the fulfilment of Dublin's aspirations to become one of Europe's leading tourist destinations "depends fundamentally on its success in maintaining its built heritage".
But the chamber argues that Ireland's system for listing buildings is not working and too many historic buildings are being destroyed "despite growing public concern for the environment". To set this right, it recommends drawing on the best international practice.
The report cites Scotland, where all buildings pre dating 1840 are automatically listed, and the authorities have power to serve repairs notices to prevent historic buildings falling into decay. In Northern Ireland, it notes, grants are "far more generous than in the Republic Drawing on its experience, the chamber proposes that a dedicated office should be created, perhaps under the aegis of the Heritage Council, to draw up comprehensive lists of historic buildings, give advice to local authorities and take "coercive action" when needed.
It also recommends that information on Dublin's built environment, held by a variety of bodies, should be consolidated into one database, which could be constantly updated. This could be done by expanding the chamber's recently published Dublin Environmental Director.
The report says the owners of historic buildings should also be offered the "carrot" of grants and tax breaks to encourage maintenance, but these incentives should be conditional on the works reaching an appropriate standard to be certified by the heritage council.
It says the current Building Regulations, which were drafted to meet the fire and other safety standards of the late 20th century, must be "customised to meet conservation needs", rather than "encouraging the destruction" of buildings of distinction.
"With regard to new buildings, a sense of excitement about what modern architecture at its best can contribute needs to be highlighted," the chamber says. Architectural competitions should be "the norm for significant new buildings".
The next Dublin city plan, currently being drafted, "should articulate a vision of the city which can inspire public interest and pride", highlighting the role which historic buildings and areas could play in "enriching the economic and social life of the city".
A proposal to divide the inner city into "cells" is endorsed by the chamber because it would "bring management closer to the businesses and residents in these areas". But it says there must also be a genuine effort to involve these "stake holders" in decision making.
The report strongly advocates that conservation and development interests should reach an accommodation, citing the example of Jervis Street shopping centre, where two important houses on Abbey Street, which might have been demolished, are now being restored.
It endorses the work of Dublin Civic Trust and, in particular, its revolving fund for the restoration of historic buildings, saying a capital fund of £5 million supported by the EU and financial institutions would allow for an average of 33 buildings to be restored and sold on.
"Dublin Chamber of Commerce takes the view that this is a very cost effective means of achieving both restoration and revitalisation," the report says, adding that the trust had estimated that there were about 300 "key buildings" in the city currently in need of such treatment.
