Look at de state of Cork, like!

[ I amazingly have found common ground with An Taisce, regarding the Ellesmere Properties (Howard Holdings) Lavitts Quay hotel proposal – [/QUOTE]

is there pictures available of the design? I know the pictures of the previous office that was to be on Lavitts Quay were on this website but is it radically changed from that? :confused:

Lex, this is why I was asking were Murnanes doing a business park up by the airport, I believe they have applied for an Airport Logistic Business Park with office, warehousing, commercial units at Farmers Cross 😉

😀 Cumnor Construction Ltd have been granted permission for their apartment and commercial development near Sunday’s Well 5-days in advance of the due date.

The development originally sought to construct a 7-storey 22 unit apartment development on the old quarry site near North Mall, bounded by Winter’s Hill and Sunday’s Well Road. I wasn’t too favourable on the original – but revised plans reduced the development by 2-apartments in the original new build and relocated them by refurbishing and redeveloping the existing buildings on-site fronting Sunday’s Well Road, thus allowing for a reduction in height to 6-storeys. In addition, after initial property rights confusion, Cumnor will also redevelop an area east of the new-build development for a public recreation and amenity area – providing a pleasant nicely added ‘green’ feature. The project was designed by Jack Coughlan and Associates – one of the firm’s better recent projects w/ extensive timber-decking, communal facilities and water features to boot! Development and construction will be by Cumnor Construction subject to appeal.

Lex, this is why I was asking were Murnanes doing a business park up by the airport, I believe they have applied for an Airport Logistic Business Park with office, warehousing, commercial units at Farmers Cross

I think I misread your original question – for you see, Murnane & O’Shea Ltd are planning a ‘Cork Airport Business Park’ style facility for Bantry, perhaps this is where I got lost. But yes, they have have also sought Outline Planning Permission for Development of an Airport Logistic Business Park comprising of office, warehousing, commercial units and logistical support units associated with the operation and future expansion of airport and conversion of dwellinghouse to office use and 2 no. new vehicular entrances. Project Architects new Cork office is handling the design and PM.

@Pug wrote:

is there pictures available of the design? I know the pictures of the previous office that was to be on Lavitts Quay were on this website but is it radically changed from that?

I do have images from the small VIS by RORSA, also submitted in their planning application, but I need a special file translator to cater to for the file format – I won’t have one until late next week I’m afraid. Its on order. But when I do and if I do, I’ll of course try to post the image online. The design differs indeed from the TCH office building. It rises 7-storeys (which is quite acceptable given the pattern of development along Lavitts Quay), No.16 is being retained and incoporated into the hotel (as a cafe). Similarly to the original TCH proposal, Lavitts Quay frontage is found in a 3-storey build at No.17 and 18 Lavitts Quay (w/ entrance to the basement car-park from here also). R. Arthur’s building at No.15 is unfortunately still not incorporated. The main building is set back and is a sort of L-Shaped zig-zag reflect the nature of the site. The northern-most Lavitts Quay elevation of the main building has a total of 20 square and featureless windows, a white wall continues to a protruding square teak-box home to 12 of the windows, it cuts off at the 6th floor where a continued boxy white wall squares off to the roof. The retracted northern elevation of the main building is nothing more than a bland, featureless 7-storey white wall that dominates the quayside approaching east-to-west along the northern quays – it is quite frankly horrid and seems a white continuation of the northern Opear House wall before its revamp. Yes there are 8 box windows at this elevation, which remind one of the horrid boxy windoes protruding from the north-eastern corner of Northgate House at the North Gate Bridge, but the expanse and extent of the bland wall nature along this elevation is powerfully dominating and highly distasteful. Geoff Butler of Reddy O’Riordan Staehli is chief architect on the project. It is hoped that the project will not be refused because of its design, but will instead be offered the condition to revised its design aspects to increase the quality of its aesthetics – something cater for by CCC with John Mannix’s Washington Street project and Rockfell’s Cornmarket Street project (although they initiated much of this on their own).

was just wondering about the Kino, has that actually received that many objections?? Personally I thought it would clean up that area alot!

No objections were raised against the Kino Redevelopment – it’s a wonderful development and will contribute very positively to the Washington Street street-scape. The project’s planning application decision was pushed back dramatically until April 2005 – reasons unknown. It is sincerely hoped that it gets the all-clear. Dennehy + Dennehy are the design team. Visit http://www.ddesign.ie/projects.htm -> go to ‘Community’ section, the Kino design is the 3rd icon, click on it and wait for it too load.

🙂 Blackpool Bowling & Leisure Ltd’s 70,000sq ft, 4-storey leisure development at Fitz’s Boreen in Blackpool is taking shape at its site adjacent to the old Mallow Road. The development will include 14 ten-pin bowling lanes, restaurant, 20m swimming pool, children’s swim area, a leisure pool, well-being centre, a large fitness and gym centre, some retail and ancillary offices. It’s a real positive investment for the area and will provide this area of the city with top-of-the-range amenities that isn’t retail or cinemas or the like – its a nice alternative. Deavey Design of Dublin are the architects for the project with Fleming Construction as main contractors.

@Radioactiveman wrote:

In fairness to Kathleen Lynch et al, who i’ve dealt with once or twice, the first proposal for this site scared the crap out of local residents, Frinailla brought this trouble on themselves by pushing too hard. The residents are a hell of a lot more suspicious now.
And even you have to admit, that Frinailla’s first offer at this site was diabolical.
Lexington, since you seem to know a scary amount about the planning process, do you have any info on what the new Archives building in Blackpool will look like? I’ve tried CCC for info, to no avail. Can you help? Thanks, keep up the good work.

I appreciate concerns on the original proposal – I suppose my gripe is that many of these objections are lodged without reading the planning proposals (which are available for public viewing). It’s scary to see, and I have seen, people casually enter a planning office, call out a planning number and lodge an objection. Out of mere curiousity, I once approached a lady in Navigation House (who did similar to aforementioned) and asked her why she was objecting. When she explained to me, it was clear that she really only knew what had been written on the site notice. I requested the planning application and showed her through the EIS and VIS – she admitted she had been unaware of the development form but still wished to object because she though the project was too high (4-storeys) in an area averaging 4-storeys. Now granted concerns may be legitimate but I would ask persons to at the very least consult with the application before deciding to blindly object.

Frinailla have made a dramatic change to their project and pretty much done everything local residents and planners have asked of them in their new Ladyswell project. If you remember, Kathleen Lynch did state she would have favoured the original project or alternative if it were 4-storeys reduced – so here we are, 4-storeys reduced and more community provisions – and still, objections from KL. I dunno. 🙁

-> As for the new Archive Building in Blackpool, Des Berkley is the man behind the new building in Cork City Council. It is currently under construction on Great William O’Brien Street, designed by Des. As for images, the City Architect Department are looking into providing me with a few images sometime later this week. No promises as it depends on them to supply the drawings.

🙂 For anyone who remembers my post following the sale of Wilton S.C. to Howard Holdings & Joe O’Donovan last year (for 110m euro!), you will probably recall how I mentioned the rumour that Roches Stores had consulted NMA about possibly revamping their department store at the centre – well, scratch that because I have got wind of even bigger plans a-foot, but at this point, I can’t confirm this 100% – as its still a little up in the air – but…

…a new SPV by Howard Holdings and Joe O’Donovan may be looking into redeveloping the Wilton S.C. as a whole. It follows that, the enormous sale price of the highly successful suburban retail centre is mostly accounted for the highly desirable and accessible location of the centre, plus its ample grounds (which allow for development). The rental income from the centre, though healthy, does not include that of Tesco or its new associated outlets (which Tesco remains in ownership of) and only somewhat satisfies the purchase price (and associated repayments). If Howard Holdings and JOD even spent 80m on redeveloping the centre, they could very well double, even triple their rental income with new spacious retail accommodation (which would be a very attractive opportunity for the backlog of national and international retaillers who would just lovely a decent sized bite of the S.C. consumer base). Currently, few retaillers are willing to settle for the small, cramped units available at the centre. The possible addition of a 2nd floor and extensions over the car-parks could provide up to between 150,000 to 200,000sq ft of additional retail space. Roches Stores would see its store redeveloped and vertically extended – which the company would then lease back for a ‘reasonable’ rate. Underground parking and over-ground parking facilities would also be accommodated, allowing for increased parking capacity. Sizeable units, as sought by the likes of Inditex, H&M and others may be provided on the upper floor. The facility would amount to what is perhaps, Cork’s largest shopping centre (in excess of 350,000sq ft) – but it may not even go that large. It would provide a western balance to Mahon Point – a few kilometres east along the South Ring nearby. Oh, and I don’t know that this has been looked into, or that it continues to be looked into 😉 . So, if you’re asking why 110m euros was paid for the centre – think this, location and expansion opportunities – Wilton has got grade excellent on both. One of Ireland’s oldest S.C. could become one of its biggest. It would also go well with Howard’s current expansion hunger. Furthermore, when you pay big in property, sometimes, to justify your costs, you have to go bigger again for greater returns. OCP may not rule retail supreme for long. 😎

Agreed Dallas, redevelopment to a scale which would sigfnificantly increase numbers of shoppers really is not a sustainable option, the retail situation is fragile in the city at the moment, pretty much at saturation point in the suburbs. Bishopstown/Wilton could not accomodate an increased traffic volume, and i dont think the city centre could withstand the combined force of a redeveloped wilton sc, mahon point, ballincollig and carrigaline town centres. Perhaps an upgrade of the centre, but i dont see this being feasible without an increase in floor space.

Does anyone else think that pedestrian access to suburban shopping centres is woeful? In Cork maybe only Douglas SC is even approaching pedestrian friendly. How hard can it be to put the entrance directly on to the street/pavement and put the car park around the back. With the number of new apartments in the Wilton area, there is a huge number of people who could practically get there on foot.

Re. The Academy Street/Patrick Street shopping centre proposed by O’Callaghan. Is he going to knock the St. Patrick Street facade of the block? I fear another Merchants Quay is on the way.
How much of the block is going to be knocked?

I’m a bit confused about how the Johnson & Perrott building fits into the Academy St development. There is a street (Faulkner’s Lane???) between it and the Examiner offices. Is the street in between going to be removed? Or is the J&P premises not part of this development?