Cork City Council stalls plans for former Dennehys Cross post office site 

Cork City Council has said it will assess the future use of the former An Post building at Dennehy’s Cross following the completion of the BusConnects and Cork Luas projects.

The premises, which has been derelict for more than 20 years, located across from Tesco Express and Ramen on Victoria Cross Rd at Dennehy’s Cross junction, served as a post office until its closure in January, 2005.

Its closure came as part of a suite of An Post closures and conversions in the early 2000s, being one of 32 offices and town sub-offices to shut their doors across Cork city and county between 2000 and 2006.

Other facilities closed in Cork city during this period include offices on Washington St, Western Rd, and Carrigrohane.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council told The Echo that the local authority initially purchased the site to facilitate infrastructure works within the immediate vicinity. However, due to more recent transport infrastructure plans, these works were “superseded”.

Improvement of junction

“The former post office site at Dennehy’s Cross was purchased by Cork City Council to facilitate the widening and improvement of the junction,” the spokesperson said.

“The proposed road widening works did not proceed as Cork BusConnects and Cork Luas superseded the original Cork City Council plans.

“Following completion of the transport infrastructure works, the remaining lands and building are likely to be assessed for future use. However, the precise plans have yet to be confirmed.”

Under the current Cork Luas and BusConnects plans, a preliminary bus stop and cycle lane, located directly outside the former post office premises, have been earmarked for development.

However, further investigation is required at subsequent design stages to assess the impact such works will have on a derelict residential building to the rear of the former post office.

While there have been no other plans over the last two decades to develop this site, planning permission was granted in January for the construction of a multi-storey residential accommodation and artisan food market at the former Dennehy’s Cross Garage, less than 100m from the post office premises.

The part three- and part five-storey residential development will comprise 30 apartments, which will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, with the existing garage structure on the site being demolished to make way for construction.