Our dream of having an ice rink home in Ireland got a massive boost last week when planning permission was granted for the expansion at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre – which will include an ice arena.

South Dublin County Council green-lighted plans for additional retail space and an ice rink, but took issue with the construction of a multi-storey car park and denied permission to build the 1,800-space facility.

The expansion at Liffey Valley will feature an additional 7,000 sq m of retail space, 3,774 sq m of restaurant space, a refurbished 14-screen cinema and an Olympic-sized indoor ice arena that can hold 2,500 spectators for skating competitions, ice hockey matches and other entertainment events.

The new development, dubbed the Western End, is due to be completed by the end of this year.

An artist’s impression of the proposed ice arena.

Vibrant Partnerships, which manages the London 2012 Olympic Games venues, is acting as consultants on the layout of the ice rink, while US architects RTKL has been chosen to design the expanded centre.