Musicians entertain a crowd on Grafton Street in Dublin, renowned for its busking scene. Photo: Getty
A chorus of disapproval by buskers on Dublin’s Grafton Street over plans for new apartments has fallen on deaf ears.
Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to Winthrop Co-Ownership to a change of use on the second, third and fourth floors at 4-5 Grafton Street to build four apartments.
This is despite fears expressed by Grafton Street buskers and their supporters that the proposal “would lead to the decline of one of the most iconic busking streets in the world”.
Businessman David Goddard, who led the recent buy-out of Davy’s real estate arm, co-owns 4-5 Grafton Street along former Davy boss Brian McKiernan.
Both Mr Goddard and Mr McKiernan’s Middle Cow Ltd provided letters of consent to the council to allow Winthrop Co-Ownership lodge the plans.
However, in an objection against the plans, busker Jacob Koopman told the council that his concern over the residential units for the area “will replicate the issues we have witnessed in Temple Bar, where noise complaints have disproportionately targeted buskers”.
A busker and resident here for the past 12 years, Mr Koopman said: “Despite our relatively low impact compared to pubs and other venues, we have faced restrictions, including the recent ban on amplification.”
Marc Pyssa told the council that the approval of the scheme “would ultimately lead to the erosion of this cultural gem”.
Francesco Parodi told the council: “As a street performer and musician who has made Ireland my home, this development poses a serious threat to my livelihood and to the vibrant cultural atmosphere of Grafton Street itself.”
Andrew Kavanagh told the council that as a 42-year-old musician, allowing the apartments to proceed “will inevitably result in complaints about street music and that will directly impact my ability to support my family”.
The council granted planning after concluding that the development is particularly timely in light of the considerable level of vacancy of floor space on the upper floors of commercial premises in the city, which could help towards alleviating the existing housing pressures within the city.
The buskers now have the option of appealing the council decision to An Bord Pleanála.
