Cork city councillor calls for public park at old tax office site

Transforming a site which has been idle for six years into a public park would benefit both the population of Cork and the environment, a general election candidate has said.

Social Democrats councillor for Cork City South Central, Pádraig Rice, has urged the council to explore the possibility of creating a new public park on Sullivan’s Quay on the site of the old Fás building and former tax office.

He explained: “We need more open, green spaces in the city centre, and this site has huge potential.”

The former building was knocked in 2018, and the site has been vacant ever since.

“There was a plan to build a hotel on this site, but to the best of my knowledge, that planning application has now expired,” Mr Rice said.

“We can’t let this site sit vacant and unused for another six years.”

A spokesperson for Bam told The Echo: “Last 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.”

Mr Rice has tabled a motion at Monday’s city council meeting calling on the executive to explore the options of leasing or purchasing the site to create a new public park.

“We have to start making better use of vacant sites and derelict buildings across the city, if only in the medium term while new plans are being developed,” he said, adding that more play space is something that is badly needed in the city, and there is sufficient space on the site for a playground.

More green space, trees and areas that can absorb water in the event of floods will also have the dual purpose of helping to address the effects of climate change, he said.

“As the graffiti on the hoarding around the site says — we need the courage to be creative.”

Previously, Green Party councillor and current Lord Mayor Dan Boyle had indicated he would like to see a green space developed at the site, as had Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry, founders of design agency Anois.

Mr Rice will propose that the city council executive engage with the owners of the site on the possibility of leasing or purchasing the site, and will ask for a progress report on the topic to council members within six months.