Dublin City Council publishes redesign plans for a pedestrianised College Green
Eva Osborne
Dublin City Council has published pre-planning designs for College Green, aiming to redesign the space into a "pedestrian priority area".
The ‘Grow College Green’ project seeks to reimagine the centre of Dublin City, with the goal of "creating a new space that is a destination for everyone".
The updated design is now open for consultation until March 11th.
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Clrr Ray McAdam, said: “Grow College Green is an exciting step in celebrating Dublin, not just our history, but the living, working, evolving city we are today.
"This project will reimagine one of our most iconic spaces as a destination for everyone, somewhere you can walk through easily, meet friends, sit in the sunshine, enjoy the buzz of the city, or simply take a breath in the middle of a busy day.
"Crucially, the updated design reflects real engagement, thousands of submissions and face to face conversations, and I welcome the clear commitment to making College Green inclusive and accessible, with the input of Disabled Persons Organisations helping to shape what welcome and usable really mean in practice."
Working with the National Transport Authority, McAdam said Dublin City Council is setting out a vision for a "high-quality public realm" that can accommodate everyday activity and major cultural events, while staying "safe, legible and welcoming from morning to night".
"I encourage Dubliners, commuters, businesses and visitors to engage with the consultation on Engage.ie, because the best city-making happens when people help shape the places they use and love.”
'Grow College Green'
Speaking about the publication of the updated design, chief executive of Dublin City Council, Richard Shakespeare, said: "The pre-planning design for ‘Grow College Green’ represents a significant step forward in reimagining one of Dublin’s most historic and important public spaces.
"From the outset, our ambition has been to create a city centre that works better for everyone, a place that is safer, greener, and more accessible, a space that feels good to spend time in.
"Informed by users of the city, this project will transform how people experience the heart of the city. It will deliver wider, clearer and more legible routes for moving through the area, linking the north and south of the city centre along the civic spine; greener, more tranquil spaces to spend time; and a setting that supports everything from everyday activity to cultural events and major civic moments.
"By opening up views to our landmark buildings and weaving in the textures and stories of the past, the design will restore a real sense of importance to this historic location."
Shakespeare said the design reflects the feedback the council has received from businesses, people who work in the area, residents, students, DPOs, community groups, and visitors.
"We are asking the public to share their views for the last time on this exciting ‘Grow College Green’ project. The input we receive during this consultation will directly influence the design that we submit for planning and will ensure that this space truly serves the city for decades to come.”
Dublin City Council is now inviting public feedback, which will help inform the final design ahead of submission for statutory planning permission later this year. Submissions will be accepted until midnight on March 11th, 2026, and can be submitted here.
