After an A320 ECAM alerted LGCIU 1; Maintenance and Dispatch directed the crew to return to the departure airport for maintenance. An emergency was not declared.

Narrative

At cruise altitude FL290; ECAM alerted LGCIU #1 FAULT. [We] complied with ECAM; QRH; [and] supplemental procedures. Notified Dispatch via ACARS [and was] instructed to return to the departure airport; [with the] understanding [that an] over weight landing will be performed. Verified; again; that Maintenance was instructing our flight for an air return [and the] air return [was] confirmed. Notified ATC; requesting an air turn-back at [the] request of Operations and this not an emergency. Notified and briefed [the] cabin of [the] air return and approximate ETA; and that this is not an emergency. Then the passengers were briefed of return and that this was not an emergency; but a request by Operations for Maintenance to perform repairs necessary for flight to continue. [The] flying pilot requested lower altitude to burn off as much fuel as possible. Referred to QRH for overweight landing procedures and complied. Prepared [the] aircraft for arrival [and the] flying pilot briefed [the] arrival and inoperative systems that could impact flight. As an extra precaution; [we] notified Center and Approach to have equipment standing by. Briefed passengers that fire equipment may be visible upon landing and this is only for a precaution. Landing [was] uneventful. Landing weight [was] 149;000 LBS and sink rate [was] less than 150-100 FPM. Released fire equipment and proceeded to [the] gate.