TU Dublin Study finds Main Street Redesign is Positive for Business & Vibrancy in Blackrock

A study by TU Dublin has found that, 4 years-on from the redesign of Blackrock Main Street in Dublin, businesses are reporting that vibrancy and vitality has been restored to the village. TU Dublin was engaged by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to independently examine the medium-term impacts of the temporary redesign and reallocation of road space along Blackrock Main Street.  These changes were originally brought in to support businesses through Covid-19.

The research involved interviewing a range of different businesses around the Main Street and village to explore their views as to how the redesigned street has performed as the years moved on after Covid. The local business representative body was also asked for their views. In the findings, the businesses particularly noted:

• noticeable improvements in footfall, street vibrancy and vitality around Blackrock Main Street;
• a better sense of atmosphere, and village feel;
• a particular appreciation of the new outdoor seating, greenery and additional trading areas;
• an active and welcoming business community where business development and building village identity are fostered; and
• an overall positive feeling towards the Covid Mobility works, a feeling that ‘it worked’, and that trading conditions through the pandemic would have been worse without it.