County Hall Renovations - Architects & Project Overview Report

Notice of Proposed Development by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for proposed renovations and alterations to County Hall, part of which includes and adjoins a Protected Structure in accordance with Part 8, Article 81 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended.

In accordance with Part 8, Article 81 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, it is proposed to carry out renovations and alterations to County Hall, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as follows: • • • • • • • • • •

New Customer Service Area with office space and adjoining meeting rooms at ground floor level of the existing Concourse; Amendments to the existing Housing meeting area and to the existing LEO Office area; New Plant Room and IT space at third floor level within the existing roof; New ramped access to the Old Town Hall from the Concourse and a new meeting area on the ground floor of the Old Town Hall; Demolition of the existing single storey office adjoining the Town Hall; Repairs and renovations to the glazed Concourse roof, new insulation and new services to upgrade the area; New Council Chamber with staff spectator gallery; New Stairs to the mezzanine space, accessed from the stairwell in the Old Town Hall New lift to the first floor mezzanine space, the top floor of the Old Town Hall and the Assembly Room; A new glazed bridge access from County Hall first floor level to the new Council Chamber and spectator gallery.

Site Location and Zoning: The proposed development is located within the existing building envelope of County Hall, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council part of which is a Protected Structure included in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2016-2022, RPS no. 642. The site is located at the corner of Marine Road and Crofton Road.

The subject site is zoned with the land-use zoning objective ‘MTC’, with a stated objective ‘to protect, provide for and/or improve major town centre facilities’, as per the 2016-2022 Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan Zoning Map No. 3.

There is a specific objective ‘to preserve views’ along Marine Road towards the coast.

The site is also located within the proposed Dún Laoghaire and Environs Local Area Plan.

Detailed description of the proposed works: The project will provide new spaces to offer new customer engagement areas between the public and the Local Authority allowing for a more open and transparent interface and centralising the Local Authority customer response to the public.

The existing access will be improved, by providing universal access to the building with a new customer service area immediately accessible from the main entrance. A new seating area will be provided and a ticket system will be in place for customers during busy times.

Staff for the proposed service counter will be located immediately behind the counter in a new central office space. Amendments are proposed to the existing Housing meeting area

and to the existing LEO Offices area to provide new meeting areas accessible from the Concourse ground floor level.

Appointments and consultations can be scheduled in the various meeting rooms and in specialised seating pods which will be located within the ground floor level of the Concourse.

New IT screens will be available to customers to access the County Council web page and forms.

This space will be completed in a high quality design with high quality finishes, paying particular attention to lighting and acoustics. The proposed renovations will also upgrade the energy profile of County Hall.

A new glass lift will be installed to a new first floor mezzanine space and to the top floor of the Old Town Hall, accessing the Assembly Room. A new stairs will also be provided from the Concourse to the mezzanine space and this mezzanine space will also be accessed from the stairwell in the Old Town Hall.

The mezzanine space will provide a breakout space and a catering area.

A new central floor will contain a new Council Chamber for forty (40) councillors and staff with a spectator gallery for fifty (50) persons. The new Council Chamber will provide universal access.

A second glazed bridge will provide access from County Hall first floor office level to the new gallery and will also allow for fire escape. A new services stairwell will access the Plant Room and IT space at third floor level.

All of the proposed new areas, with the exception of the top of the new lift, will be contained within the existing building volume.

In order to provide universal access throughout County Hall, it is proposed to demolish the single storey office adjoining the Old Town Hall, which is not part of the original structure, and provide a new ramped access to the Old Town Hall from the Concourse. A new meeting area is proposed on the ground floor of the Old Town Hall, accessible from the Concourse.

A number of required renovations will be undertaken as part of the proposed works including the replacement of the glazed Concourse roof, insulation and acoustic improvements to the existing curved roof of the Concourse and new services to upgrade the central area including a new fire alarm system.

A Conservation Report is included as part of the proposed development which includes and adjoins a Protected Structure.

The impact of the works is described in Appendix 1

Submissions or observations with respect to the proposals, and dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, may be made in writing on or before 19th May 2017 to: Therese Langan, Senior Executive Officer Corporate Communications and Governance DĂşn Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council A copy of the proposed Part https://dlrcoco.citizenspace.com/

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Appendix 1 - IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO CONCOURSE COUNTY HALL

Works to improve Accessibility and inclusion Delivery of customer service and enhancing democracy are at the centre of the Council’s goals and objectives described in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s Corporate Plan 2015-2019. The current architectural design is creating physical barriers around customer service access and in democratic participation by citizens but particularly for citizens with disabilities, those that are mobility impaired and older citizens.

There are 7 public counters in different locations in County Hall and Harbour Square delivering 550 services. The Council Chamber, at the heart of the County’s democracy, is inaccessible independently by those with a disability, that are mobility impaired and older citizens. 14% of citizens living in the County are recognised as disabled. The County also has the highest number of citizens nationally that are over 65 years of age and trends explain that this will expand into the future.

Nature and scope of the works to improve accessibility The works will consist of a full integrated customer service space that will deliver all Council Services from the one location. The Council Chamber, which is currently inaccessible independently, will be accessed by an easily read and highly visible lift to the first floor Council Chamber. The current Chamber can only accommodate at most 8 members of the public. The new Chamber will significantly improve the capacity of the public gallery with space for 50 members of the public. It will also provide for accessible bathroom and toilet facilities for citizens that are disabled, those that are mobility impaired and older people.

The proposed works will be audited and screened by O’Herlihy Access Consultancy.

Benefits and impacts • • • • •

Council services and democratic participation will be provided in a respectful and dignified manner consistent with the needs of the individual Services for citizens with disabilities shall support their independence while respecting their right to safety and personal privacy Service outcome and democratic participation is the same for citizens with disabilities as for persons without disabilities Integrated services allows citizens with disabilities to fully benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar manner as other customers Increased understanding of and supports for disabled citizens, those that are mobility impaired and older citizens.

Customer Service Centre The proposed development is the provision of a comprehensive and integrated customer services area, which, with dedicated customer services staff, a new generation of customer services software systems, online self- services facilities and equipment, public waiting area providing a child friendly space, meeting rooms and areas that will deliver a full and comprehensive service to our customers.

It is intended that all customer interactions, personal callers, telephone, email, social media and written correspondence will be dealt with by the customer services centre, with centralised receipt, processing, referral and response to all customer interactions, with a complete recording, monitoring and reporting arrangements in place.

Nature and scope of works to improve customer service The ground floor layout provides for a purpose built customer services area, at the centre of the County Hall buildings, facilitating vastly improved customer interactions and services to the public. The area will be highly visible, fully accessible and will provide a high quality, bright and efficient space for our customers and front line staff. The design includes waiting area, public services counters, areas and meeting rooms, self-service online kiosks, digital engagement touch screens, exhibition and public consultation space.

Benefits and impacts • • •

• • • • •

Disabled citizens, those that are mobility impaired and older will be have access to services independently.

Customer service opening hours will increase by 33% Customer service technology will provide insights about customer service priorities that will inform priorities identified by citizens and the consequentially priorities in the deployment of resources.

A customer focused approach will facilitate service and process improvements thereby delivering efficiencies Customer service will be easy to access and will be delivered from the one location in an inclusive manner The space will be used to market activities, events and public consultations ensuring citizens are kept fully up to date with events going on in their County The new space will provide meeting rooms and engagement spaces encouraging citizen engagement and participation The Council’s enhanced role in economic development and service delivery via the Local Enterprise Office will be delivered by the proposed Customer Service Centre

Works that will reduce energy consumption The works are designed deliver measures that will contribute to a reduction in the Council’s energy consumption in the order of 33% by 2020 in line with EU legislative and regulatory commitments (SI 426/2014). Under dlr’s corporate ISO50001 Energy Management System, County Hall is listed as one of dlr’s significant energy users.

This project will have a positive impact in addressing the building fabric within the centre of the building through upgrade of roof insulation and replacement of glass panels.

Benefits and impacts • • • • •

Reduced energy consumption Significant reduction in energy costs Reduce reliance on fossil fuels Positive impact on climate change Reduction in CO2 emissions will lead to better air quality.

Council Chamber – A chamber that is accessible and inclusive Dun Laoghaire Corporation was established in 1930 electing 13 Councillors that were accommodated in the current Chamber. The number of Councillors was increased to 28 following the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993. Recent Local Government Reform increased the number of Councillors again to 40 using the same space that originally served Dun Laoghaire Corporation Councillors. The public gallery can accommodate 8 people.

Nature and scope of works The Council Chamber will be directly accessible from the proposed Customer Service Centre by staircase and lift. The current Chamber is inaccessible independently by citizens with disabilities, older citizens and those that are mobility impaired. The first floor layout includes a suitably sized space for the 40 member Council together with ample public and press seating. There will also be audio/visual facilities, projectors/screens, provision for online/WiFi/charging/electronic voting. Provision has been made for an anteroom/assembly/conference area along with a refreshments/server space. The new Chamber can be used for a variety of functions and purposes, when not in use by the elected Council, including conferences, meetings, and public events, lectures bringing people into our County Hall making it a place for everybody to feel welcomed.

There will be a space where Councillors can meet in private to discuss issues that are being considered at Council meetings.

Benefits and impacts • • • •

Increase public gallery capacity from 8 to 50 at Council meetings providing accessible, inclusive, open, visible and transparent Council meetings Provide a Council Chamber that is accessible to citizens with disabilities, older citizens and citizens that are mobility impaired Increase the efficiency of Chamber business with new technologies –audio visual, voting systems and greatly improved webcast standards The provision of meeting rooms and engagement spaces supports active citizenship and participative democracy

Existing council chamber It is intended to carry out renovations and refurbishments to the existing Council Chamber to restore it to its original design that it enjoyed during the Dun Laoghaire Corporation Era. There have been a large number of alternations and additions made to the original Chamber to accommodate the increase in the number of Councillors from 13 to 40 following Local

Government reform. The result is a mismatch of old and new, with significant modern pastiche additions to the space.

It is proposed to remove all unsympathetic alterations, and using best conservation practice, restore the Chamber to its 1930 design, and use for ceremonial occasions and as a meeting room for areas committees, SPCs and community engagement meetings. It will also be considered for the Spring and Summer into Heritage Programmes where the history of this space can be showcased and celebrated.