Council seeks new Horgan’s Quay plan
Rob McNamara
DEVELOPERS hoping to build office space for 5,000 people, 237 apartments and a 136-bed hotel have been told submit a revised “high standard” public realm design to reflect the large volume of future road users and pedestrians.
HQ Developments Limited, which is a joint company of Clarendon Properties and BAM Ireland has received a request for more information on their planning proposal for the 6.1 acre site close to Kent Station from Cork City Council.
The plans include three office blocks and 237 apartments in four further blocks, a hotel with a rooftop restaurant and 2,900 sq m of restaurant and retail space.
The €160m development has been the subject of objections by a residents association on the Lower Glanmire Road and the Port of Cork Company (POCC).
Residents have complained that the built-to-rent apartments will not help to build the community and have cited the lack of parking spaces in the proposals – just 277 are planned for the development.
POCC welcomed the development in principle but said the proposals did not include consultation with them and do not account for future impacts on the company.
The developers have been asked by City Council's planning department to address issues in relation to roads and transportation, waste management, drainage and watermain layouts.
“The public realm should be of a high standard given the large volume of future road users. It should include proposals to provide an enhanced pedestrian environment on Alfred Street and along the entire length of Railway Street, from Horgan's Quay to the Lower Glanmire Road," City Council said.
Additional information on vehicular access, a new public road identified as Station Access Road, a pedestrian crossing on the Lower Glanmire Road and access to parking on Railway Street are also required from developers.
The development was welcomed for it's “broad mix” of use by the Cork Business Association when it was announced in August.