The developers of a new office block in Cork have been told to significantly reduce the amount of basement car parking spaces in their proposed building as it will be located in an area with accessible public transport and an extensive cycle network.

Twin office buildings, six storeys and seven storeys in height, are planned for Penrose Quay adjacent to the under-construction Penrose Dock development.

Bandon company Karamex Ltd is proposing the demolition of the existing red-brick buildings on the site currently occupied by Oxford International.

In their place, they propose the construction of a six storey building facing Penrose Quay with a rooftop terrace and solar panels along with a seven-storey building facing on to Alfred Street with a ground-floor cafe.

The proposed development will include two basement levels for parking with a vehicular entrance from Alfred Street.

The office buildings are designed for single or multiple office users and will be targeted for general office, technology or educational users. They could accommodate up to 1,000 workers.

However, planners in City Hall have now asked the developers to significantly reduce the 72 planned basement parking spaces. They noted that the plans submitted "clearly demonstrates that the proposed development site benefits from a very high level of accessibility by public transport, by virtue of its city centre location and an extensive cycle network."

The planners have also asked for the seven-storey building to be reduced by one storey to bring it in line with the neighbouring, under construction, Penrose Dock development.

The planned buildings will back onto Alfred Street which is a possible route for the planned new LUAS or rapid bus system for Cork.

The North Docks area around Penrose Quay and Kent Station is the focal point of major construction activity in Cork at the moment.

Penrose Dock by developer JCD is set to deliver 250,000 square feet of office space.

Construction is also underway on a new hotel and office development overlooking Kent Station at Horgan’s Quay.

Called HQ, it will include three office blocks for up to 5,000 workers.

Proposals for the new Penrose Quay office development have been lodged with City Hall planners and a decision on the application is expected in June.