RDS to receive €10 million makeover

WORK on redeveloping the RDS complex at Ballsbridge at a cost of €100 million will start shortly and will be completed in phases over ten years, it was confirmed at the opening of the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show yesterday.

Planning permission for the development was granted on appeal some time ago by An Bord Pleanála. The new-look complex will include four office blocks, an upgraded world-class Anglesea Stand and other facilities.

It will significantly increase revenue for the RDS foundation activities in agriculture, science, industry and the arts. It will also ensure the continuance of the Dublin Horse Show at Ballsbridge and lessen the society’s dependence in the future on its events business.

RDS chief executive Michael Duffy said construction of the first office block at Simmonscourt Road on the Bewley’s Hotel side is scheduled to start at the beginning of November.

“We will be going to tender straight after the horse show, at the end of August. We have a ten-year planning permission which incorporates the offices and the development of the showgrounds, which will include the Anglesea Stand. We are anxious to get started as soon as possible,” he said.

Mr Duffy said the society is conscious of the need to minimise interruption during the construction work. In addition to the horse show, 250 commercial and 100 foundation events are held at the RDS each year.

“It is a very busy site and it is one of the challenges for us from a management point of view to undertake the construction whilst minimising interruption,” he said.

Mr Duffy said the rationale behind the development is about securing the future of the RDS in Ballsbridge and providing a stable income stream.

“The world is getting more competitive. The society wants to have an income stream that allows it to invest in its foundation activities and to develop the site.

Mr Duffy also announced that the RDS is to carry out a detailed review over the coming months of the horse show.

Asked about claims that high entry fees were not attracting some exhibitors, he said the RDS carried out a lot of exhibitor research after last year’s show.

“We know from the research what the concern is, but entry fees did not come out as the top issue. That’s not to say we are not acutely conscious of the issue.

“We want to attract the best. We want to have the best structured show.

“That is what we are about going forward and any review we do and any decisions that we take are going to be fundamentally in the context of making sure that the show is relevant to the industry’s needs today and tomorrow,” he said.