The capital's central coach and bus station could undergo its most significant development work since it originally opened in 1953.
Ireland’s national bus company Bus Éireann has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of Busáras, Dublin’s central coach and bus station.
Advertisement
The redevelopment project would provide improved facilities for more than 2,500 daily passengers, 270 Bus Éireann customer-facing employees, and up to 90 head office employees.
According to the company, it would be the most significant development work in the bus station since it opened in 1953.
Dermot Bannon Architects is among the design teams tasked with bringing the new project to life.
Plans include restoration works on the building's renowned mosaic tiles, as well as Busáras becoming a fully accessible bus station - with accessible toilet facilities and fully accessible changing rooms for those with special needs.
On top of this, the plans involve a new entrance from Store Street that would be fully accessible and independent of the bus station and ticket machines being relocated to improve passenger experience and circulation.
The building would also offer a fully accessible seated conference facility within the basement theatre for 140 attendees, which would be used by Bus Éireann as a training venue but could be available for hire.
Today we've submitted a restoration & development plan for Busáras to Dublin City Council
These plans would revitalise Busáras improving the customer experience, protecting the fabric of the Bus Station & greatly improving facilities & accessibility for customers & employees (2/2 pic.twitter.com/pDRNOPQLXj
— Bus Éireann (@Buseireann) September 23, 2021
Advertisement
“Busáras is an extremely important building for Bus Éireann, facilitating more than one million passenger journeys a year,” said Chief Executive Officer at Bus Éireann Stephen Kent in a statement.
“We are very conscious of its heritage significance as Ireland’s first purpose-built bus station, designed by Michael Scott, and its stature internationally as one of Ireland’s most prominent modernist buildings. We are keen to both preserve and revitalise the bus station and ensure it is able to continue to fulfil its original function.
“Earlier this year, Bus Éireann published our first sustainability strategy. The redevelopment and investment in our bus stations is an important element. From a customer perspective, we want to make bus travel the first choice for people, working towards providing a service that is 100% fully accessible and 100% emissions-free."
If planning approval is secured from Dublin City Council, Bus Éireann will move to secure board approval and then funding to tender and execute the works.
Advertisement
The works would be carried out on a phased basis and are mostly internal, meaning bus and coach services would not be disrupted.
Main image via Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
