New office block to proceed after objection is declared invalid

A PENROSE Quay development looks set to proceed as planned despite a submission being lodged with An Bord Pleanala against the project.

The third party submission was lodged on November 4. 

It could have led to a significant hold-up in the project, but it has since been dismissed by the planning appeals board as invalid.

Karamex Ltd now have the green light to progress a two-building office development on Alfred St, Penrose Quay, one of six storeys and one of seven.

The offices are designed for single or multiple office users and are described as being for business, technology, industry or educational uses.

The submission to An Bord Pleanala on the development, which was lodged by hand, stated that “Penrose Quay, as designed, is not beautiful or exceptional”, and that it “is clearly not in proportion with the ‘old town’ city centre.” 

The appellant also calls for a review of all Cork Docklands grants of permission for compliance with good planning practice. 

The individual also calls for Cork to become a heritage city, or a European green city.

“There is no great architecture evident in the design of Penrose Quay and no poetry in its conception and so this building simply doesn’t deserve to be built on this site,” the submission concludes.

The individual had appealed the development initially to Cork City Council in May this year, however, Bandon-based company Karamex Ltd. who are behind the plans were granted permission subject to 30 conditions.

Having been appealed to An Bord Pleanala, a final decision wasn’t expected until March next year. However, as the submission has now been deemed invalid it's expected to proceed as planned.