A planning decision on the €750m revamp of one of Dublin city centre's busy shopping areas has been delayed.

An Bord Pleanála said an announcement on the scheme was due this week but the deadline was put back due to the volume of work, with a new date not yet fixed.

"A decision isn't imminent. I don't see that decision being made this week and I don't see it being made next week under any circumstances," a spokesman for An Bord Pleanála said.

-- Advertisement --

The revamp, spearheaded by Arnotts, aims to ambitiously transform the area, a proposal backed by Dublin City Council.

If successful, the plan would create a new shopping area and entertainment and residential zone, called the Northern Quarter.

It will include 47 new shops, 17 cafes, restaurants, roof gardens and bars, around 180 apartments, a four-star hotel and spa and a stunning new central square.

The main feature of the project is the styling of Prince's Street as a pedestrian thoroughfare connecting to the centre of O'Connell Street, through to Henry Street with a new public square at the centre.

The development, set on just over eight acres in the Abbey Street/Henry Street area, is set to employ over 5,000 people and be completed by 2011.

(VB/JM)