Digital Hub Development Agency attracts 24 companies to site

THE Digital Hub Development Agency in Dublin yesterday reported a doubling of companies in the past 12 months.

In its end-of-year statement, the agency said the progress achieved in 2004 has put it on a sound footing to move forward into its major development and expansion phase over the next two years.

Digital chief executive Philip Flynn said: “The critical success factor for us in 2004 has been the attraction of 24 new companies to the site, bringing to over 300 the number of people now working in the Digital Hub. This represents more than a doubling of companies on last year’s numbers. In attracting companies to the Digital Hub, we have created a diverse cluster of digital media enterprises, including gaming, animation and mobile technologies. This diversity has allowed the companies based here to successfully team up for business tenders and other joint ventures.

“This has proven to be very advantageous to our cluster companies and it is contributing to their growth and success. We expect that this success will continue into 2005, with many of our companies anticipating further expansion in the year ahead,” he added.

“In 2004 final tenders from three short-listed bidders for the remainder of the seven-acre property development were received and evaluated.

“A preferred bidder was selected to enter exclusive negotiations with the agency and these have now progressed to an advanced stage.

The major milestones remaining are completion of negotiations and receipt of statutory approvals, publication of a community development plan followed by a full planning application.

“In the meantime, to ensure that we can continue to meet the strong demand from new companies to base themselves in the Digital Hub, we have put in place plans to create state-of-the-art, temporary space to house further tenants in 2005.” Digital Hub Development Agency was established on a statutory basis in 2003 and is charged with the development of a nine-acre site located on both sides of Thomas Street, in Dublin’s Liberties.

Over the next decade, the agency plans to deliver a development comprising digital media enterprise, retail and residential units, learning and civic space.

To date, two-acres of the entire Digital Hub site has been developed into enterprise and learning space.

The development of the remaining seven acres will commence as soon as planning approvals are received.