Dún Laoghaire harbour’s proposed “urban beach” and outdoor swimming pool has finally received planning permission almost a year after the plan was lodged by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company.

The proposed redevelopment was modelled on the Badeschiff facility in Berlin, a floating swimming pool on the river Spree, and is part of the Dún Laoghaire harbour masterplan published in 2011. The company had hoped to have the facility operational by summer 2015, although given delays in the planning process this is unlikely to be realised. It is expected to cost €2.5 million.

Councillors had approved funding of around half of the project’s cost last year with The Harbour Company funding the rest. The project itself will include an artificial beach and cafe as well as a floating swimming pool with heated, treated seawater built on a converted river barge located beside a berth within the harbour.Once the project is up and running the harbour company believes that it will attract up to 150,000 visitors and generate up to €1 million in revenue each year.