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ESB International to leave Dublin Airport base, in suspected attempt to get staff back to the office

ESB International to leave Dublin Airport base, in suspected attempt to get staff back to the office

Irish Independent13 hours ago

In 2017, the firm had relocated its head office and 500 staff to the then newly refurbished high-spec office at DAA's Dublin Airport Central development.
The location of the building, next to Terminal 2, was said at the time to have been a key reason for a company that has many overseas operations.
But there is speculation that one of the reasons for the move back to a city centre location was that ESB International had found it difficult to encourage staff members who have been working at home since the end of the Covid pandemic to return to the office – and that it was felt this would be easier to achieve in a city-centre location.
The company declined to comment on this.
When asked about why the company was looking to relocate back to the city centre, the firm's spokesperson said: 'ESB remains in discussions with a number of stakeholders in relation to this – and as a result, we are not in a position to comment any further at this time.'
The prominent building – now called One Dublin Airport Central – was originally built in the 1960s and served at the headquarters of Aer Lingus for decades.
It was famously the location for the airline's art collection, which included works by Rembrandt, Louis le Brocquy and Jack B Yeats before it was sold off in 2001 to help raise cash for the airline.
The building was completely stripped back to its concrete frame before being refitted as a grade-A office block. ESB International arrived in 2017 as the original anchor tenant at Dublin Airport Central and its opening ceremony was presided over by then foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan.
Two further buildings have since been built next to the original buildings and plans for two more will bring the overall scale of offices at the campus to over 40,000sqm, with tenants including US food giant Kellogg and DAA's own headquarters.
A DAA spokesperson said the airport operator 'does not comment on commercial matters relating to individual tenants at Dublin Airport Central'.
It is understood that DAA has not yet received any formal notice from ESB International regarding a change in their tenancy. But according to sources there is 'strong interest' from other companies in moving in, should the offices become available.

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Our iconic market ‘will be GONE in months' thanks to huge shopping centre & new flats plan – it's a ghost town
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The Irish Sun

time8 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Our iconic market ‘will be GONE in months' thanks to huge shopping centre & new flats plan – it's a ghost town

AN ICONIC market could be gone in months as redevelopment plans go ahead amid crippling competition from a major shopping centre. Shepherd's Bush Market, in West London, dates back 111 years but its 10 Many traders worry they could be priced out, pushed aside, or left behind Credit: Paul Edwards 10 Others are worried the character of the market won't survive the changes Credit: Paul Edwards 10 Sue French, 60, who has worked at Ellis's Pet Store for 43 years, blames the decline on competition Credit: Paul Edwards The housing development will be located on the Old Laundry Site land opposite the market and includes the demolition of an apparent former homeless hostel. The council will manage the homes, with the scheme to include the revamp of sections of the market space itself, leaving many traders worried they'll be ushered out. However, many say the death knell was already sounded back in 2008, when the gargantuan Westfield shopping centre first opened. READ MORE NEWS The modern mall covers 2,600,000 sq ft and cost £1.6 billion, featuring high street giants like John Lewis , Marks & Spencer , Next and Primark - meaning footfall at the market has been declining for years. And that's to mention the rise of online shopping, with people preferring to shop at Amazon - which is also causing devastating problems for more established outlets, and was accelerated during the Covid pandemic. 'Growth and potential' For stallholders like Bobby Singhy, 45, whose family has been part of the market for over five decades, the place holds deep personal value. 'The market is wonderful, great characters, always here to help one another,' he told The Sun this week. Most read in The Sun 'There's a lot of growth and potential in this area. My stall has been here for 55 years—my grandad, then my dad, then me.' Others are worried the character of the market won't survive the changes. Wrecking machines move in to demolish 'ghost town' Scots estate dubbed 'Britain's Chernobyl' Sue French, 60, who has worked at Ellis's Pet Store for 43 years, blames the decline on competition. 'The market has changed a lot over the years," she said. "This used to be busy but when they made Westfield that killed us." 'At the moment, Yoo Capital are trying to fix it.' Traders say footfall has plummeted in recent years. 'I've seen lots and lots of people just walk past the market,' said Sue. 'The bus doesn't even stop near the market. People can't afford to rent stalls here… they're here for a few months and leave. "This is the only original part of Shepherd's Market that is left.' This used to be busy but when they made Westfield that killed us. Sue French Ellis's Pet Store employee Joanna Lee, 58, a lifelong local, fears that too much is being lost to development and that the market's unique character is under threat. 'They can't build over this — you can't take away this market… I believe we're witnessing the death of the market,' she said. 'I've grown up on this market and I don't want it to change because that's how it starts. "This used to be the place to go. There were lots and lots of shops all selling different things, and now the stalls are one by one packing up and closing." 'Now it doesn't matter' One jewellery stall worker, who has been at the market for 40 years, but asked not to be named, fears promises won't be kept. 'The market is very quiet – in the old days, weekends were packed - but now it doesn't matter,' she said. 'Yoo Capital said they won't gentrify and will regenerate it instead… I'm not worried as long as it's not gentrified.' 10 Market trader Bobby Singhy, 45, operates a stall previously occupied by his grandad and dad Credit: Paul Edwards 10 Abdul Idris, 60, believe the area needs a change Credit: Paul Edwards 10 Tony Lucky, 67, said online shopping and parking price rises are killing the market Credit: Paul Edwards The developers' deal struck with the council will see new homes and shops at one end, and investment in the rest of the market space. But not everyone is convinced it will be a good thing. 'There's a danger of Shepherd's Bush Market becoming 'This market is so multicultural and has a lot of life. "We have a wave of Asians, Afghans, Arabs and any changes may put people off from entering. "And that includes any major changes Yoo Capital makes." Online has defeated us and people going straight to Amazon and ordering from China. There's no parking and that's been the most challenging thing – it's acting like a deterrent to a lot of customers. Tony Lucky ZamZam Luggage owner Tony Lucky, 67, owner of ZamZam Luggage, blames high parking charges and online competition. 'Online has defeated us and people going straight to Amazon and ordering from China,' he said. 'There's no parking and that's been the most challenging thing – it's acting like a deterrent to a lot of customers. Every hour it costs £5 or you get a parking fine of £80. 'Yoo Capital want to build more flats and don't care about the market,' he said. 'This market has been here 100 years and no problem – but now they want to break all this and rebuild the flats.' 'We need a change, but the right one' Abdul Idris, 60, has worked at his home goods stall since childhood. 'Tesco and other big stuff have been taking the spotlight away from shops in the market,' he said. 'We need a change of things. Development is happening but I don't know when – we need a change, but the right one.' For many, there's still hope. Laura Sakstein, 67, who runs 'This is Nuts', a family-run store her father opened in 1933, believes the market has life left in it. 'Back in the day it was packed – you couldn't get in the market,' she said. 'It's not just Shepherd's Bush, it's retail everywhere today.' 'Walthamstow used to be a fabulous market but I don't think it is what it was. "It's got potential, this place, but we need new variety,' she said. 'Community spirit is what it's all about. Westfield shouldn't be competition to the market. Retail everywhere is suffering.' According to Yoo Capital, the redevelopment is meant to protect the market's future. Redevelopment plan A 9-storey commercial building will be built on the Old Laundry Site next to the market, with 40 council-managed homes and upgrades to existing stalls. 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'The investment could give the market a face-lift and bring in new customers,' he said. As traders wait and watch, hope hangs in the air — alongside fears of losing something irreplaceable. The Sun has contacted Westfield and Hammersmith and Fulham Council for comment. Do you know more? Email 10 Laura Sakstein, 67, is remaining positive and believes the market still has a place in today's world Credit: Paul Edwards 10 The market first opened 111 years ago Credit: Paul Edwards 10 Westfield shopping centre in Shepherds Bush opened in 2008 Credit: The Sun 10 The shopping centre has reduced the footfall over the years, market traders claim Credit: The Sun

ESB International to leave Dublin Airport base, in suspected attempt to get staff back to the office
ESB International to leave Dublin Airport base, in suspected attempt to get staff back to the office

Irish Independent

time13 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

ESB International to leave Dublin Airport base, in suspected attempt to get staff back to the office

In 2017, the firm had relocated its head office and 500 staff to the then newly refurbished high-spec office at DAA's Dublin Airport Central development. The location of the building, next to Terminal 2, was said at the time to have been a key reason for a company that has many overseas operations. But there is speculation that one of the reasons for the move back to a city centre location was that ESB International had found it difficult to encourage staff members who have been working at home since the end of the Covid pandemic to return to the office – and that it was felt this would be easier to achieve in a city-centre location. The company declined to comment on this. When asked about why the company was looking to relocate back to the city centre, the firm's spokesperson said: 'ESB remains in discussions with a number of stakeholders in relation to this – and as a result, we are not in a position to comment any further at this time.' The prominent building – now called One Dublin Airport Central – was originally built in the 1960s and served at the headquarters of Aer Lingus for decades. It was famously the location for the airline's art collection, which included works by Rembrandt, Louis le Brocquy and Jack B Yeats before it was sold off in 2001 to help raise cash for the airline. The building was completely stripped back to its concrete frame before being refitted as a grade-A office block. ESB International arrived in 2017 as the original anchor tenant at Dublin Airport Central and its opening ceremony was presided over by then foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan. Two further buildings have since been built next to the original buildings and plans for two more will bring the overall scale of offices at the campus to over 40,000sqm, with tenants including US food giant Kellogg and DAA's own headquarters. A DAA spokesperson said the airport operator 'does not comment on commercial matters relating to individual tenants at Dublin Airport Central'. It is understood that DAA has not yet received any formal notice from ESB International regarding a change in their tenancy. But according to sources there is 'strong interest' from other companies in moving in, should the offices become available.

ESB International in the departures lounge at Dublin Airport, in suspected attempt to get staff back to the office
ESB International in the departures lounge at Dublin Airport, in suspected attempt to get staff back to the office

Irish Independent

time19 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

ESB International in the departures lounge at Dublin Airport, in suspected attempt to get staff back to the office

In 2017, the firm had relocated its head office and 500 staff to the then newly refurbished high-spec office at DAA's Dublin Airport Central development. The location of the building, next to Terminal 2, was said at the time to have been a key reason for a company that has many overseas operations. But there is speculation that one of the reasons for the move back to a city centre location was that ESB International had found it difficult to encourage staff members who have been working at home since the end of the Covid pandemic to return to the office – and that it was felt this would be easier to achieve in a city-centre location. The company declined to comment on this. When asked about why the company was looking to relocate back to the city centre, the firm's spokesperson said: 'ESB remains in discussions with a number of stakeholders in relation to this – and as a result, we are not in a position to comment any further at this time.' The prominent building – now called One Dublin Airport Central – was originally built in the 1960s and served at the headquarters of Aer Lingus for decades. It was famously the location for the airline's art collection, which included works by Rembrandt, Louis le Brocquy and Jack B Yeats before it was sold off in 2001 to help raise cash for the airline. The building was completely stripped back to its concrete frame before being refitted as a grade-A office block. ESB International arrived in 2017 as the original anchor tenant at Dublin Airport Central and its opening ceremony was presided over by then foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan. Two further buildings have since been built next to the original buildings and plans for two more will bring the overall scale of offices at the campus to over 40,000sqm, with tenants including US food giant Kellogg and DAA's own headquarters. A DAA spokesperson said the airport operator 'does not comment on commercial matters relating to individual tenants at Dublin Airport Central'. It is understood that DAA has not yet received any formal notice from ESB International regarding a change in their tenancy. But according to sources there is 'strong interest' from other companies in moving in, should the offices become available.

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