Extension sought for planning on landmark Cork 34-storey hotel

Tower Development Properties Ltd is seeking to extend planning permission for a landmark 34-storey tower hotel on Custom House Quay in the city, for which consent expires in May.

The request for a three-year extension was made as the clock runs down on a five-year planning grant, issued by An Bord Pleanála (now An Coimisiún Pleanála) on March 22, 2021. Cork City Council has until March 12 to decide whether or not to grant it. Should they grant it the extended permission will run to June 2, 2029.

A number of business representative bodies have written to the council expressing their support for the permission to be extended, among them Ibec and Cork Chamber. Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill also wrote in support of the developer’s request.

Ibec head of regional policy and engagement Helen Leahy said the development would “secure the redevelopment of strategic, under-utilised urban land in a prominent city centre location”, and also act as a catalyst for investment.

Perfectly Positioned

Conor Healy of Cork Chamber said the site’s location — near both the rail terminus at Kent Station and the central bus hub at Parnell Place — meant it was “perfectly positioned to promote low-carbon commuting”.

Moreover, the development would “facilitate a major injection of capital into the local economy” in both the construction phase and long-term operational stage.

The application seeking an extension of time to build a 140m, 240-bed tower hotel, plus 25 residential suites, on Custom House Quay was made by planning consultants McCutcheon Halley, on behalf of Tower Development Properties Ltd.

Meanwhile, a land deal worth €7m has paved the way for Cork developer Bridgewater Homes to ramp up its house-building activity on Waterfall Rd, in a series of residential schemes valued at just under €400m.

Foothold

The latest acquisition strengthens the company’s foothold in one of the city’s increasingly active suburban growth corridors and positions it to deliver close to 700 new homes in the coming years.

Bridgewater’s focus is centred on lands at Ardarostig, on the city end of Waterfall Rd, where the developer has already established a presence through its now almost complete 275-unit Waterfall Heights scheme.

The developer’s interest in Waterfall Rd goes back to 2023 when it acquired the Waterfall Heights site for €10.4m from Dublin-based developer Ardstone.

Bridgewater’s latest deal expands its footprint even further. The developer recently secured an additional 8.5-acre parcel directly opposite Waterfall Heights in a €7m transaction with Dwellings Developments Bishopstown Ltd.

Work is already underway on this development, which will be marketed as Waterfall Avenue. According to Bridgewater director Dave Walsh, the scheme is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

A third major project, known as Waterfall Manor, has also just received planning approval. This scheme will consist of 246 homes on a 13.5-acre site located just east of Waterfall Heights.

Once completed, the three Waterfall Rd projects combined will form a substantial residential cluster in what was a predominantly rural area.