Green light to alter iconic former Roches Stores site in Cork city centre

Permission has been granted for plans which will see the former Debenhams/Roches Stores building on Patrick Street split into multiple different units, with a Cork TD saying the development needs to begin quickly as the iconic building has been vacant for too long.

Cork City Council granted permission for the splitting into four units, on the corner of Patrick St and Maylor St, to facilitate multiple different retailers occupying the store.

The proposed development is comprised of the sub division of the former department store, to form ‘Block A’, the western portion of the building, over four storeys. Works to Block B will be separate.

Block A is to be further subdivided into four individual retail units, one to be accessed on to Patrick Street.

Two new ground floor entrances to Patrick Street are proposed, while the existing entrance reconfigured to facilitate the new layout.

The Staunton family, who also own and operate the Intersport Elvery’s chain purchased the premises, which has been vacant since the sudden closure of Debenhams in 2020, in 2023 for €12 million.

Rumoured

As well as Intersport Elvery’s, retailers Rituals and Zara are among the retailers rumoured to occupy the building.

Following a request for further information from Cork City Council, documents were submitted outlining the plans to preserve the buildings historic façade and the signature dome.

The newly approved plans include the partial infill of the atrium at first floor level, increasing internal floor area.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire told The Echo: “The former Roche’s stores building occupies a crucial location in the city, maybe one of the most prominent sites, yet it has been idle for five years, almost three years after it was bought.

“I welcome that a decision has been made, I hope that development will happen soon because it is a huge site to be idle and a terrible waste of potential. Hopefully this marks a fresh start for that corner of Patrick Steet, a crucial confluence in our city.

“It also needs to be part of a wider vision for the city, taking account of the changing retail picture and our need for a city centre that people want to spend time in, to work in, to live in.”