Row over ESB’s €150m plan to modernise HQ

ESB has lodged a planning application for a €150m redevelopment of its controversial Fitzwilliam Street site, which will see the 1970s-style facade restored to a style more sympathetic to its surroundings.

Such is the strength of feeling against the current building that, earlier this year, Dublin City councillors described the decision in 1965 to rip down 16 Georgian houses to make way for the existing ESB headquarters was “an act of vandalism”.

However, when it emerged ESB wanted to replace it with a design that “respects the surrounding architectural heritage”, the family of the man who designed the current building, the late Sam Stephenson, took umbrage.

Most vocal was his niece, Simone Stephenson, herself a renowned conservation architect, who said the building her uncle designed is a “monument in itself ... has intrinsic value and deserves to be recognised”. The family contemplated a conservation order to stop ESB’s plans.

Yesterday, the energy giant confirmed it had submitted an application for “one of the most efficient, sustainable and commercial offices in the city ... sensitively respecting and enhancing the Georgian streetscape of ESB’s historic home”.

It said the current complex is a mix of inefficient, ageing buildings, some of which were constructed almost 70 years ago and are in poor condition.

“The complex is very inefficient when compared to modern buildings; both in terms of energy consumption and use of space. Some of the buildings on Fitzwilliam Street have a Building Energy Rating (BER) of F which is amongst the worst energy ratings achievable,” a spokesman said.

“The new development has been designed with sustainability as a core principle, will achieve a BER of A and a sustainability standard of BREEAM Excellent. It will feature innovative, sustainable technologies which will reduce carbon emissions and running costs; for example rain water attenuation and recycling will reduce water consumption by 70%.”

ESB described the design by Grafton Architects and O’Mahony Pike Architects as “contemporary” and said it aimed to bring back the essence of the street. The company also said the development will “pay for itself over time”. It will also enable the company to base 3,000 of its staff in one location.

Construction is due to begin in 2016 subject to a successful planning process. Further information about the project is available at www.esbprojectfitzwilliam.com.