There’s a brilliant plan to build a biodiversity centre along the north bank of the Liffey, between Chapelizod and Islandbridge, just south of the Phoenix Park. The full project name is the “Cois Abhann Liffey Vale Biodiversity Centre”, which will restore and expand the historic Liffey Vale House, a beautiful Georgian building that has fallen into dereliction.
The plan is for a biodiversity centre to host school tours and visitors, to deliver a new café for the area, and be a hub in Dublin for biodiversity education. You can read more here.
I think it’s a great project and I’ve fully backed it as a councillor. These projects take time, so I will use this page to present the very latest information I have on the project, up until its completion.
Latest update (22nd January 2024):
Note: This update was verbal by phone, but I’ve requested a formal, written update be given to all local councillors. I will update this page with that information once published.
- Design works are done, and fullplanning permission received.
- Capital funds are in place from Dublin City Council – this means that financing for the project is secure.
- A tender for contractor (to do the construction work) should go out in March 2024, hopefully with them appointed in summer 2024.
- One a contractor starts work, they anticipate a 12-16 month construction programme, with the hope that it will be operational in Autumn 2025
- A tender for the operator of the facility, who will run the educational aspects of it, and will likely be an NGO, will also go out in March 2024.
- A tender for an operator for the small café there will also go out, but that may be later
- The city council’s parks department will manage the grounds directly.
