We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
PLANS HAVE BEEN lodged to build a new €160 million mixed-use development on the banks of the River Lee in Cork.
Documents filed with Cork City Council this week by HQ Developments Limited outlined a project to develop eight new buildings on a six-acre site at Horgan’s Quay.
The new building on the previously unused industrial land would include 237 residential units across four apartment blocks, a 136-bed hotel with a rooftop restaurant and nearly 3,000 sq ft of retail space.
There would also be a total of 400,000 sq ft of office space, enough to accommodate up to 5,000 workers, across three separate buildings.
A new 54,000 sq ft public space will also be created as part of the overall development, while a number of existing buildings on the site, including the Station House, the Carriage Shed and the former Goods Shed, will be restored as part of the plans.
It is expected that the development will take between three and five years to complete, with work to start at the beginning of next year if approval is granted. At peak construction, there would be 450 workers on the site.
HQ Developments Limited is a joint venture between construction firms Clarendon Group, owned by Paddy McKillen and Tony Leonard, and one of Ireland’s largest building contractors, BAM Ireland.
Last year, a deal was agreed between CIÉ, the owner of the site at Horgan’s Quay, and HQ Developments Limited to lease the land.
Under the terms of the deal CIÉ will get one-tenth of the rental income from the development as part of a 300-year lease.
Attracting investment
Cork Chamber chief executive Conor Healy said the new development will help the city attract more foreign direct investment.
However, he also noted that key aspects of Cork’s infrastructure still need to be brought up to scratch to facilitate more multinational firms.
“With those new jobs comes a demand for good quality city centre residential accommodation particularly focussed on the rental market where there is currently a shortfall,” he said.
Also, in recent years due to growth in both the business and leisure markets, visitor numbers are growing considerably with widespread recognition of the need for additional hotel rooms and supporting retail and hospitality offerings.
Several other major developments are currently in the pipeline for Cork, including the €90 million ‘Navigation Square’ office complex at Albert Quay and a new office block in the city centre on the South Mall.
Written by Killian Woods and posted on Fora.ie
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Fantastic news for cork!!
It’s nice to see a bit of life in the city again
@Duncan: They need to develop the Docklands, bring a bit of life into the area and loads of room to build apartments above retail space. A lot of buildings in the city centre, with no-one living on the floors above these shops and that should be tackled.
@Stephen murphy: Great news. Hope they don’t make the docklands soulless and leave room for restaurants and bars, shops and other human endeavours
@Tom Collins: The should sort out the crumbling city centre first – Patrick’s Street, Grand Parade, South Mall, North Main Street, to name but a few. These places are decrepit and should be the real heart of the city – any revitalising must start at the core.
Fantastic. Just what the doctor ordered to allow Cork to attract tech companies and Brexit related investment. We need a lot more of these big projects.
Doesn’t seem like much of a facelift at all. Pretty generic looking buildings matched with lots of grey dull landscaping. What does Ireland have against Architecture?
Stunning design, reminds me of the vast hopelessness of what goes on in office buildings and the purposelessness of human existence.
Truly great work by the Architect in expressing nihilism so elegantly, assuming that was their objective.
@alphanautica: Vast hopelessness is really in right now actually. I wonder at this modern take on the futility of creativity.
Brilliant news but there will be objectors and that will probably put the Project back a year or two waisting time and money
This was the ideal spot for the event centre rather than the Beamish & Crawford site. It’s next to the train station and across from the bus station. A few minute drive to the Jack lynch tunnel for traffic heading out of there.
The Celtic tiger roar’s again..
@dangermouse: or just new buildings!
Could we send An Taisce on an expenses paid trip,to help out in the Caribbean, while the planning process is decided on?
@KerryBlueMike: Given this is yet another identikit building with zero architectural merit I think sending An Taisce down to Cork on an expenses paid trip would be well worth Corks while. We have enough of these boring buildings in Dublin as it is, Cork does not need to be plagued by them as well. The design smacks of the developer walking into an architects office and asking what can he get for the cheapest price- ugly is the answer. It is the developer who will be sunning himself in the Caribbean while the rest of us have to look at ugly for decades to come.
@Inanimate Carbon Rod: I’d say there aren’t too many developers sunning themselves in the Caribbean at the moment…
Could do with sorting out traffic before putting hundreds more into city centre!
@ricky bobby: So an office development smack bang in the city centre, with apartments that can service the offices attached to a train station isn’t a good idea?
@Cian O Donoghue: 237 units ain’t gonna house 5000 workers and how do you propose they get to work if not drive the train is it do me a favour
We’re back boy!
Gives a job.
BAM are involved ffs it’ll surely cost a billion by the time it’s complete
Looks brilliant. Its a pity that the limerick plans wont include apartments like this plan
Johnny got a boom boom
Annnnd guarantee the council will reduce the residential to zilch, as per bloody usual.
Developers? Boo hiss….
Absolutely nothing impressive about another example of artless modern architecture.
Great news but I think that new developments should be allowed to go higher but trade off on increasing road widths
We are, and planning on, building high density buildings on the same medieval road network which can barely handle current traffic. While there will be residential units there they will not cover all the roles available in new offices. So there will be increased traffic
Indeed
have your say