New-look Albert Quay taking shape, with some modifications

AS demolition work continues to clear a site for Cork’s largest ever office development, its developers, O’Callaghan Properties (OCP), have lodged a fresh planning application to modify the existing permission.

The €90m development will provide 310,000 square feet of office space and accommodate 3,000 workers once complete in four separate buildings.

It is one of a number of major construction projects currently underway in the city.

In March, OCP was granted permission for the complete redevelopment of the Navigation House site on Albert Quay.

In recent weeks demolition work by Loftus has taken place on the site completely clearing it back to the Albert Road.

The facade of the former Navigation House will be retained in the new building.

OCP has now lodged a new planning application seeking permission to demolish an existing warehouse, in addition to those covered by the previous permission. The developers said the application will also provide for a new Block B part of the Navigation Square development.

This building will be five storeys above ground level with two set back floors on top with roof terraces.

O’Callaghan Properties said they expect the first phase of the project to be completed by December 2018.

Designed by architects, Henry J Lyons, the fourth generation offices are designed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold energy efficiency standards and are flexibly configured to provide general office space for business and technology uses, with a mix of floor areas up to 25,000 square feet.

Demolition is also significantly complete by Loftus on another key city centre site slated for a new office development.

The former Camden Palace and McKenzies building on Camden Quay has been substantially cleared.

A €20 million office development is planned for the location, providing 150 construction jobs.

Construction is expected to take a year to complete and once finished the five floors of office space will be capable of hosting 500 employees.

Camden Place faces the Cork Opera House and Emmet Place and is adjacent to Apple’s city centre location and the popular Huguenot Quarter.

Again, the facade of the existing building has been retained.

Separately, construction is also underway on the western side of the city at the Bon Secours Hospital and on the Western Road.

The Bons are building a major extension at the rear of the hospital that will take two years to complete and the development will employ 300 construction workers.

The extension includes a new critical care unit, inpatient wards, oncology day ward, four additional operating theatres and recovery room as well as 81 new private rooms.

Work is significantly underway on the Western Road for a student apartment complex located at the former filling station across the river from the River Lee Hotel.

More than 200 beds will form part on the development in four and eight bedroom flats.