1: Introduction
Purpose of the Study This study has been prepared to address a number of issues: In spite of a period of dramatic commercial expansion in the city centre between 1998 and 2008, followed more recently by a challenging economic downturn, Capel Street has benefitted only marginally during this time, and now finds itself without a clear vision of its place in the city’s retail hierarchy. The street has traditionally been associated with a number of trades and specialist retailers such as hardware, furniture and tailoring. These trades, while still important to the street, are now less prevalent, and in many cases face significant competition from retail parks and shopping centres outside of the city centre, as well as changing tastes and consumer trends. There is a realisation that the street now needs to refresh itself and to offer a different range of attractions, businesses and uses in order to retain its vitality and market share and to encourage increased footfall. Capel Street is the most significant commercial street in the north west of the city centre and is at the heart of a wider area encompassing the City Markets, Smithfield, the legal quarter centred on the Four Courts, Blackhall Place and Kings Inns, and Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street. While these are all assets of great potential and economic value to the north west city centre, they fail to integrate successfully with one another or to tap into the wider residential areas which surround them. A renewed Capel Street and environs could provide a catalyst for the further regeneration of the north west quarters of the city centre and become a thriving hub for this wider community. There is a growing sense that Capel Street and the City Markets can develop together as a distinctive and high quality retail district complemented by cafÊs, restaurants, food businesses and specialist uses. Capel Street has a considerable built heritage and its own particular charm and character, however the street is often overlooked and undervalued by the wider city. The street contains many fine 18th and 19th century buildings which together form a remarkably intact and cohesive urban streetscape. The street is now designated an Architectural Conservation Area, and this designation brings with it certain responsibilities and challenges for the businesses of the street, but also offers a wealth of opportunities. It is considered that the benefits of the ACA designation have not been sufficiently explained to key stakeholders on the street and that a clear connection has still to be made between protecting and enhancing the architectural quality of Capel Street and more fully realising its economic potential. The street has seen a considerable influx of ethnic traders and restaurants in recent times, reflecting the increased diversity of the city centre’s population over the last decade. While these new traders have brought interest and flavour to the street, a greater effort is required to integrate these businesses more successfully into a high quality vision for Capel Street and its environs. These new businesses are a great opportunity for the street and should form an integral part of its future direction.
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