The popularity of outdoor swimming in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years.

A heated Lido allows a comfortable swimming experience all year around regardless of the weather. Rain and temperature don’t affect you when you are in a heated pool and already wet, if anything they make the experience unique and exhilarating. The average number of Rainy days in Dublin is approx 127 (source). There are many examples of successful outdoor swimming pools in the UK that get all year round use.

We agree that the housing crisis in Ireland should be the priority for the government and DCC. However the planning constraints relating to George’s Dock specify that the end need/use of the space must be related to a water-based activity. So even if there is a demand for housing, from a planning perspective this site is not a viable or safe site for the construction of housing.

Government budgets for public parks and sporting facilities have restricted rules about their use and cannot be spent on things like housing or healthcare.

Disability access will be a key objective when the facility is designed. Currently our designs are only at a conceptual level and intended to generate interest so that DCC take ownership of our project. It’s envisaged that the vast majority of the facility will be on ground level. We have disability advocates on our team willing to review and contribute to the official design process should the project ever proceed.

We feel that there is a stronger argument for a public swimming and community facility. The conservation statuts of the 18th century dock means any development must be sympathetic to the original dock’s form which was an open body of water. However, we acknowledge the lack of green space in the surrounding area and that is why a proportion of the scheme does include a park area. Our proposed water-park integrates water and parkland allowing the development to not overly compromise the integrity of the dock’s original form. It will allow visitors and the general public to experience and enjoy a rich segment of biodiversity in the heart of the city. Due to the conservation status of the old dock, completely infilling it to make a park is unlikely to receive planning permission.

Parks form just over 17% of the city. Within the Dublin City Council administrative area, there are 13 Flagship Parks, 59 Community Grade 1 Parks and 228 Community Grade 2 Parks(source DCC). Yet there are only 9 public swimming pools located in North Dublin.

Antisocial behaviour is something that cannot be solved by any one initiative or new building project. Equally the existence of antisocial behaviour is not an excuse to avoid building important amenities which can have significant positive impacts on surrounding communities. Indeed the lack of such resources in the first place increases the chances of already disadvantaged individuals feeling more isolated and hopeless, thus normalising damaging behaviours in these cohorts.

A world-class facility co-created with local communities will provide people with numerous options for activities both in the pool, community space, and parkland. It is our intention to provide this historically underserved area of Dublin a remarkable asset which we believe will empower locals and create a sense of ownership and pride in the facility. It will not eradicate the complex root causes of antisocial behaviour. However if designed, developed, staffed, and managed properly it will create a hub of activity with an inherent passive security effect on the area. The potential for positive impact far outweighs the reasons for not doing anything.

The energy required to heat a large-scale facility like the one proposed is significant. Sustainability is a key pillar of this project, our preliminary feasibility study has explored the possibility of using various renewable energy sources. State of the art heat pumps are a possibility. These could efficiently convert energy from the ground, water (Liffey) or air into hot water, this energy conversion would also require the use of renewable wind generated electricity from the national grid.

There is also scope to connect the Dublin District Heating System (DDHS) to the Lido. When operational in 2025 the DDHS will use waste energy from the Poolbeg incinerator to heat water that will then be pumped into local buildings to power heating systems. The current piping infrastructure allows water to be pumped just over 500 meters from Geroge’s Dock. This could be extended to provide hot water for the Lido.

Furthermore there is scope for integrating solar panels into the development. Geothermal surveys in Dublin have also demonstrated huge heat source potentia and should also be investigated. Also cold wastewater wells generated from water-water heat pumps could provide cooling energy to the air conditioning systems of surrounding office buildings and future developments in the IFSC.

Our proposal is aimed at providing space for people to easily enjoy the lifelong activity and benefits of swimming, and to encourage non-swimmers to learn. However we understand that some people will never be able, or want, to learn to swim for various reasons.

An important tenet of our Lido proposal is to ensure that any development using a large amount of public money should offer something to all citizens including non-swimmers. The cafe and community space proposed alongside the main Lido as well as the proposed parkland and public seating will ensure that non-swimmers can benefit from and enjoy the facility.

A world class facility for swimming all year round, with prioritised affordable access for local communities to ensure inclusivity and sense of ownership. Community and events/activity space, again prioritising access for locals groups. Civic parkland with public seating. A beautiful public landmark development to instill further pride amongst the locality.

The conservation status of the 18th century George’s Dock site means that specific considerations must be taken in relation to any design in order stand a realistic chance of planning approval. Whatever is developed there needs to be sympathetic to the original form of the dock, which was essentially an open body of water. For example a five story leisure centre or a completely infilled park is not likely to be approved because they will in no way resemble the original body of water. The same applies for a large roofed swimming pool structure.

George’s Dock Lido campaign is proposing an open air pool, which is the defining feature of a Lido. It will be sympathetic to the open body of water form of the original dock. The proposal will restore and amplify the existing protected 19th century docks walls elevating an important piece of Dublin’s dockland heritage.

Space is at a premium in any thriving capital city. Our proposal is an attempt to introduce an ambitious piece of civic infrastructure, and build a landmark facility for the people of this city.

We feel that the entire area should not just be a swimming facility but that we should also create space for the public to be able to enjoy the dock and the surrounding area. That is why our proposal also includes an open floating water park, allowing visitors to enjoy a rich segment of biodiversity and nature in the heart of the city.

We intend on water polo facilities to be incorporated into the Lido's design. The intention is for a 50m standard heated pool which could be used by a broad range of water-based athletes: water-polo, swimming events, casual/competitive lap swimmers, learners etc. We welcome any ideas from the public.