Plans have been lodged with South Dublin Co Council for what will be the country’s largest film studio campus, ‘Dublin Fields’.
Dublin based company, Lens Media Ltd is seeking a ten year planning permission for the construction of the ‘Dublin Fields’ Media Park which is to include six sound stage buildings that comprise 11 internal sound stages along with ancillary offices at Grange Castle Business Park, Co Dublin.
The scheme will also include four workshop buildings along with a TV studio and reception building that comprises three TV studios.
‘Dublin Fields’ will also include a reception building that include provide VIP and guest service along with a two storey dining hall with an ancillary 100 seat theatre.
Lens Media is backed by Irish producer Alan Moloney, known for Siege of Jadotville and Brooklyn, Oscar-nominated American Producer Gary Levinsohn of Saving Private Ryan.
A spokeswoman for Lens Media said that a formal planning application has now been submitted for Dublin Fields, “a full-service media park, over a 56-acre site in Grange Castle Business Park in South Dublin”.
She said: “Comprising 11 sound stages, three live audience studios, offices, workshop spaces and ancillary supports in excess of 800,000 sq. ft., this planned facility will be unique on the island of Ireland in terms of its scale, spec and location, and amongst the premier film, television and entertainment production facilities in Europe”.
The spokeswoman said: “Subject to planning permission, it will more than double the current soundstage offering in Ireland, acting as a catalyst for the indigenous screen industry and catering for growing, unmet production needs. Once fully operational, it will directly support in the region of 2,800 jobs and over 2,100 indirectly.”
She said: “The proposed design will deliver a low carbon building with reduced demand on operational inputs, and an improved ability to manage climate challenges. Sustainability strategies will be applied throughout the campus. We await the outcome of the planning process.
The project has been in the works for a number of years and three years ago in June 2021, South Dublin City Council (SDCC) approved the sale of 56 acres of the park’s land in order to advance the ambitious plan.
Lens Media initially purchased 48 acres of property from SDCC to develop the studio in May 2020 at a price of €26.4m and paid an additional €1.1m for an additional eight acres one year later.
The project got ensnared in a High Court legal dispute in May 2022 after an injunction was secured preventing Lens Media from taking steps to complete the land purchase.
However, the Commercial Court was told in May of last year that the dispute over the land purchase had been resolved. A new shareholder agreement was also finalised in May 2023.
The promoters will look to take advantage of the Government’s recent move to increase the film budget cap from €70m to €125m where under Section 481 of Irish tax law, corporations behind film or TV productions can claim 32% of their budget as a tax credit.
The other partners in the venture include David Cooper, MD, who is a New York-based physician who created and headed ProHEALTH Medical Management – which employed over 6,000 people – before selling the operation to Optum, a private subsidiary of United Health Group, in 2019.
It also includes accomplished film-maker Matt Cooper who wrote and directed film festival awards winner, “Is that a Gun in your pocket…”
The venture also includes Irish born and LA-based Christopher Carlin who has a specialised focus on investment feasibility, master planning, large scale mixed use/ commercial, luxury residential, retail and hospitality sector and has over two decades of experience in London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, UAE and Africa.
