Calls for city park to be created at former tax office site in Cork city
Earlier this year, BAM Property Limited sought to extend the grant of permission for the hotel and office development, but Cork City Council refused stating that, as per amendments to Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 “there is no provision under the legislation to consider an Extension of Duration for the proposed development”. Picture Dan Linehan
RENEWED calls have been made for a city park to be created at a prime site on Sullivan’s Quay after planning permission for a hotel and office development has lapsed.
The former tax office site on Sullivan’s Quay had been earmarked for the mixed-use development after BAM Property Limited was granted conditional planning permission by Cork City Council in November 2017.
The decision was later appealed by a third-party, but in June 2018 An Bord Pleanála ruled to uphold the council’s decision.
In the intervening years, the mixed-use development has not been delivered and the future of the site is now unknown as the grant of planning permission has expired.
Speaking to The Echo, Green Party city councillor Dan Boyle, who had previously described it as “frustrating” to see the site being left idle and also called for it to be opened to the public as a green space in the interim period, said he would now like to see a permanent amenity created on the Sullivan’s Quay site.
Mr Boyle said he recently tabled a motion in relation to this at a planning committee meeting.
“There is a huge shortage of open space in and around Cork city centre.
“Our development plan [Cork City Council’s] talks about the need to increase that without specifying exactly where.
“My motion was an attempt to identify one such site and to either work with the owners or to acquire the site because there’s no planning permission on it now,” he said.
“Its current use is not acceptable, it’s potential use is something that I’d like to see encouraged,” he added.
Calls for a city park at the site were echoed by Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry, founders of Anois design agency.
“We believe it’s time to take this site [the former tax office] over and turn it into a public park.
“The city needs more green spaces, and this is an ideal location facing onto the River Lee and connecting to the Grand Parade.
“The park should include a city centre playground so parents can bring their kids to have fun, as well as ample places to sit and relax and watch the world go by.
“It’s also a chance to plant city centre trees include fruiting ones, and create a peaceful oasis in the centre,” they said.
The site, located in the historic South Parish area of the city, was formerly home to the city’s main tax office but had been used for various purposes over the years.
In 2008, the Revenue Commissioners sold the 1980’s block and moved to new premises in Blackpool.
The building was used by arts students from Crawford College of Art and Design and as a gallery space before demolition work finally began in March 2018, with the building flattened by May.
Earlier this year, BAM Property Limited sought to extend the grant of permission for the hotel and office development, but Cork City Council refused stating that, as per amendments to Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 “there is no provision under the legislation to consider an Extension of Duration for the proposed development”.
In a statement to The Echo BAM said:
“Earlier this year, BAM requested an extension to the planning permission on the Sullivan’s Quay [site] as market conditions, including construction inflation and rising interest rates, impacted the viability of the proposed development.
“BAM is continuing to review options for the development of the site”.
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