Way cleared for redevelopment of Cork's South Docks
A computer-generated image of how the planned redevelopment of Kennedy Quay in Cork's South docks.
Cork developer Brian O'Callaghan confirmed that a major development in the city which will include offices, apartments, healthcare facilities and retail outlets will receive full planning permission following the withdrawal of an objection to the project.
Mr O'Callaghan, who is the managing director of O’Callaghan Properties, said he now “has the piece of paper” that will let his company plough ahead with the highly anticipated €350m development which was first proposed publicly in 2021.
“We are obviously very pleased that the appeal to An Bórd Pleanála has been withdrawn, opening the way for our company to proceed with our project in Kennedy Quay,” said an O’Callaghan Properties spokesperson.
The plans laid out by the company include the repurposing of the iconic red-brick Odlums building on Kennedy Quay, dating to the 1890s and extended upwards in the 1930s.
An O’Callaghan Properties’ spokesperson said the site is expected to attract high levels of interest from multinationals and indigenous companies in sectors including tech, financial services and life sciences and education.
"Retail in the project will be neighbourhood retail, of a type that will not compete with those in the city centre," said the company spokesperson.
Work on the site, located on Cork’s docklands, including laying water pipes is expected to commence in September or October of this year and building activity is set to start early next year as O'Callaghan Properties enters its 25th year in business.
The first stage of building will focus on constructing apartments. O’Callaghan Properties said Cork’s docklands has the capacity for 29,000 jobs and 20,000 homes.
The project, which is set to be built on lands between Kennedy Quay, Marina Walk, Victoria Road and Mill Road was granted planning permission by Cork City Council but an appeal lodged afterwards blocked progress.
Animal feed producers Southern Milling expressed concerns that the redevelopment of that industrial area would generate noise, dust, air quality and vibration emissions.
However, at a Cork Business Association breakfast event on Wednesday morning, Mr O'Callaghan indicated that these issues had been addressed and permission was in place for the project to proceed.
At the event, Mr O'Callaghan also said he is lodging planning permission for an additional 1,325 apartments on the docklands which will be separate to the €350m development.
“The Docklands is a fantastic site," said Mr O’Callaghan at the event.
The South Docks scheme envisages demolition of the early 1900s-built concrete R&H Hall grain silos which the company says are not adaptable to new purposes.
O'Callaghan Properties said Cork's docklands can "absorb 20% of the projected population growth for Cork by 2040. So it is a project of huge importance for Cork city and for the region."
