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PLANS FOR A 14-metre LED advertisement at St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin have been rejected by An Bord Pleanála on the basis that it would “visually detract” from the Grafton Street area.
The application from Nightlight Screens Ltd and supported by the shopping centre’s current owners Davy was dismissed by Dublin City Council in July but appealed to ABP shortly after.
The application sought to install “full motion/dynamic content with regard to transitions, with new signage which displays a loop of static content separated by smooth transitions”.
It also argued that the signage was not dissimilar to standalone digital advertising panels located along streets in the surrounding area.
In its ruling, An Bord Pleanála said the signage “would be visually dominant and would detract from the visual amenities and architectural character of surrounding built environment.”
“As a result, the proposed development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” Senior Planning Inspector Jane Dennehy said.
Large advertising screens have become staple attractions in many large cities across the world, including London’s Piccadilly Circus, Toronto’s Yonge and Dundas Square, and most famously, Times Square in New York.
Grafton Street and surrounding streets in the city centre, however, were designated an architectural conservation area by Dublin City Council in 2006 in a bid to “protect and enhance its unique character”.
The Nightlight Screens Ltd application, which was submitted in March, sought permission for a 14.7 square metre display screen. It followed an earlier application by the centre’s previous owners, Irish Life Assurance PLC and Ventasker Ltd, to retain an existing 17.16 square metre screen when its licence expired in 2019.
It follows a similar application lodged last summer for a 20-foot LED sign at Bachelors Walk in Dublin City Centre to allow for new advertisements every 10 seconds which was also appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Advertisements at the corner of Bachelor’s Walk and O’Connell Street have been in place since 1964 and for many years advertised Baileys.
Its owner, Declan Coleman, recently proposed removing it and altering LED panels below it with advertisements which could be changed remotely six times per minute.
The proposal involved removing part the Coleman sign – which currently reads ‘Have a nice day’ – and altering a billboard below it to allow for LED advertisements every 10 seconds.
A number of objections were made before Dublin City Council refused permission in late June.
The Board is due to make its decision on this application in the coming weeks.
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Great decision by An board pleanala!
Very positive decision by The Planning Board. Absolutely no need for such vulgar, brash, in-your-face, loud commercialism.
Someone needs to keep BP in check. This would have attracted millions visitors each each year and put Dublin on the map – making it a truly global city. Along with Twmple Bar there would have been no stopping it. Sad
@Simey Joyce: so you’re saying that millions of visitor’s would have come to Dublin to stand on a busy shopping route to specifically look at an advertising screen??
And that this is what makes a ‘truly global city’?
Ok…..
@Simey Joyce: an electric billboard? It would have been an eyesore!
@El Sparko: look it has two tram lines also… while it’s no average sized Swiss city it’s proven itself time and time again with projects like The Spire and the new runway at the airport. The advertising sign would have been the jewel in the crown for Dublin I reckon. Imagine all the Instagram selfies and tricks long shutter photographers could have done with it. It’s a pity now we can walk up Grafton street now imagining briefly we are in some sort of Bladerunner type future movie. Really sad.
@Simey Joyce: If you think an LED sign would be the jewel in the crown for Dublin, you really need to get out more mate…. lol
@Simey Joyce: the spire in my opinion is an eye sore. Most people i know refer to it as the needle, a reminder of the heroin epidemic in dublin.
@Frank Flanagan: dude every little helps. Dublin is the big fish in the small pond after all. It needs to assert itself on the global stage so it can take its place amazing the great cities of the world – London, New York, Tokyo. Meanwhile Cork is steaming ahead with its plans to build Ireland’s tallest skyscraper… Dubai, watch this space! Meanwhile Dublin struggles to get the attention it craves and deserves. This LED sign would have really nailed it for them in my humble opinion!
@Simey Joyce: such b.s.
@Simey Joyce: You got up too early. I’m pretty sure this was posted by the applicant.
@Simey Joyce: well play Simey. You trolled them hook line and sinker..
To all you people thinking this is real, need to go have a cup of coffee and re read these messages
@thomas patrick: thanks Thomas, it was a great troll indeed :) it’s unfortunate the AI doesn’t pick up sarcasm as well as it does “toxicity”. Will have my coffee now.
@Simey Joyce: Just another blindingly super bright light, that does nothing but dazzle your vision..
To say it would be a jewel in the crown of Dublin is ridiculous. Dublin has always had its own unique character, and even that is slowly being lost to modernisation. In Dublin today you could be in any city in Europe..
Don’t ruin it any more with any unwanted
Led monstrosities.
@thomas patrick: no not sarcasm, maybe a dim witted poor soul trying to provoke a reaction.
@Simey Joyce: suprise suprise, sarcasm doesn’t come through in text, who would have known ? Oh wait, maybe you just have to be good at it. Doyyyy
@Clurichaun: seemed to work for you, I always come to the Journal not for the BS stories it posts… but for the BS “expert” comments to such BS stories
@Simey Joyce: ah shure i was only being sarcastic! Can ya nae ta a jokey?
@Clurichaun: aren’t most people here trying to provoke a reaction?
Jeez, they guy was having a laugh. Relax the cacks man
@EarthwormJim: hmmm… pretty sure most people would have got it. Except for the keyboard warriors virtue signalling on here
@Simey Joyce: I can just imagine the lonely planet mentioning a neon sign in its top 100 things to see. Just ahead of Dublin Castle and the Wild Atlantic Way
More alcohol advertising!
St Stephens Green Circus.
To further turn us into sheep!
@Tim Dickson: that would be very baaaaaad indeed
i love the view having breakfast in food court , would be shame if that was blocked.
The Polish version of Christy Moore won’t be making a take on “I’m Missing You” (under St Stephens Green Neon….)
Plaster Liberty Hall if you have to
That’s a pity
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