A planning application is expected to be lodged shortly with Cork City Council for a €700 million development on the controversial Horgan's Quay site in the north docklands.
Dublin building firm Manor Park Homebuilders yesterday revealed it intended to seek planning permission for 276 residential units in seven blocks, one of which would be 20 to 24 storeys high. This would be the highest building in Cork.
The development will be on about five acres of a 14-acre site owned by Iarnród Éireann which last April said it had signed a development agreement with Manor Park Homebuilders for a €700 million commercial mixed use development.
The Horgan's Quay site adjacent to Kent railway station was the subject of controversy in 1995 when then minister for transport Michael Lowry refused to sanction CIÉ's decision to sell three acres to Cork developer Owen O'Callaghan at a price of £200,000 an acre.
The site was never offered for public tender and Mr Lowry said there was "a cosy cartel" operating in the semi-State sector. Mr O'Callaghan, who planned to develop a high-tech park on the three-acre site, subsequently withdrew from the deal.
Under the proposal from Manor Park, the housing blocks are at the eastern end of the site at Horgan's Quay at its junction with Water Street, with six of the blocks varying in height from four storeys to 10.
The proposal includes the provision of roof gardens, a large open space area at podium level which will be accessed via steps from Horgan's Quay and two basement levels with 327 car parking spaces.
The proposal also includes eight retail units with frontage on to Horgan's Quay as well as two commercial units, a creche, a gym and an access road which will require the demolition of the Kent station goods shed, which is a protected structure.
Cork city manager Joe Gavin said he expected a planning application would be lodged within the next fortnight following the publication of a planning notice yesterday.
"We are very pleased that an application will be lodged very soon. It is very welcome, we've been calling for some time to have the site developed," Mr Gavin said. "It is an excellent residential location, being close to the city centre with a brilliant south-facing aspect on to the river."
He said the council had had a number of meetings with Manor Park Homebuilders at which it had indicated that it believed the site could accommodate a large landmark building. He said the council would await with interest the design for the tower proposed by the developer.
