South Dublin County Council advances new media production studio

South Dublin County Council has commenced a tender process to secure a partner who can work alongside the council to shape and influence the design of a proposed 20,000 sqft purpose-built production studio, as well as manage its operations over a long-term contract.

Located at the 12th Lock, Grand Canal, Dublin, adjacent to Grange Castle Business Park, the studio will be one-of-a-kind, and the space will be highly adaptive to the needs of the TV/film/music recording sectors. The council is seeking proposals relating to a mix of media-related uses of the studio building, along with a requirement on how the facility will be operated. The successful partner will need to demonstrate how the new development will positively contribute to the media sector and the local economy of South Dublin.

With the 12th Lock Studio strategically located at the intersection of Grange Castle Business Park, Clonburris and Adamstown Strategic Development Zones and with Ireland’s largest film studio campus, ‘Dublin Fields’, currently at an advanced stage of planning on a neighbouring site, the Council is seeking to establish a media cluster of international significance. The new cluster will support start-ups, and small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), provide educational opportunities for those studying or working in the media sector, and will act as a catalyst for the growth of the indigenous media industry. The 12th Lock Studio is expected to be integral to achieving this and should help foster creativity, economic development and education in the arts and film sector.

Commenting on the process the Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Baby Pereppadan, said,

“Ireland has an unparalleled opportunity to compete with media production globally. There are a number of large-scale TV/Media production studios in planning or development stages throughout Ireland and there is significant growth in the sector. South Dublin, with its strategic location, supporting infrastructure, highly skilled labour force and rich history of enterprise, is extremely well placed to create a media cluster of scale that supports jobs growth, economic investment and community development.”

The studio will be located along the Grand Canal and will form part of a wider 12th Lock masterplan to enhance and revitalise the area, with the provision of restaurant, café and retail facilities, artists’ studios, childcare facilities, an event space, as well as a new public open space, enhanced public realm and activation of the Grand Canal. Directly adjacent to the studio site, development is already well underway, with the implementation of the Clonburris strategic development zone cost at some €2.9bn.

The zone will house up to 23,000 residents, complete with an exciting mix of commercial and leisure opportunities. The zone will also benefit from the proposed upgrading of the existing train line to a full Dart service, serving Clonburris. The new studio building will consequently be easily accessible by a high-frequency public transport route. In addition, the 12th Lock Studio is also located beside Adamstown Strategic Development Zone, with the delivery of 8,500 new homes advancing at pace, as well as a series of public parks, schools, a new library and enterprise centre and community facilities. Adjoining the lands at the 12th Lock sits Grange Castle Business Park, one of Ireland’s premier business campuses, with capacity for up to 20,000 jobs and home to some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical, R&D, media and IT companies.

Spanning over two floors, with studio space, offices, editing suites and catering facilities, complete with associated car parking, an attractive public realm and a distinctive architectural design, the council will construct the studio following input into the building’s final design from its new partner, who will be responsible for fit-out costs and the long-term operations of the new studio facility. Laura McGlynn, Commercial Development Officer for South Dublin County Council, added, “There is significant potential to create an exemplar development whether that be for professionals in filmmaking, animation, recording or any other media subsectors. We are providing potential operators with an opportunity to shape the design of this building and its operational model”.

Colm Ward , Chief Executive of South Dublin County Council Economic stated that ‘‘The development of the 12th Lock Studio represents an exciting opportunity to work with a partner who has extensive experience in media production in creating a state-of-the-art vibrant working studio, where content makers will thrive in a dynamic environment with best-in-class creative support, technology and equipment’’.

Recognising the significant growth potential in an ever-changing media sector, with the emergence of indigenous businesses in animation, gaming, digitisation, virtual production, audio, lighting and visual production, the Council is seeking to support SMEs, skills and talent development in the creative economy, with the provision of much needed production facilities in the 12th Lock Studio.

With planning permission in place for the Studio, construction for this new development is due to commence in Q1 2025.