PROPERTY DEVELOPER Owen O’Callaghan yesterday expressed confidence that a revised plan for a €50 million 5,000-seater event centre in Cork city centre will prove a suitable design for the site.
Mr O’Callaghan confirmed that O’Callaghan Properties will be submitting a new planning application to Cork City Council later this month for their proposed 5,000-seater event and conference centre at Albert Quay.
“We are very pleased with the revised plans that have been drawn up by our architects, Henry J Lyons, in consultation with our specialist event centre operators. The capacity for 5,000 seated or 7,500 standing patrons has been retained.
“Overall, the revised design makes the project a better fit for the site and we believe fully addresses a small number of issues raised locally.
“The decision to submit a fresh application follows further pre-planning discussions with Cork City Council”.
Mr O’Callaghan said the project envisages a fully adaptable event centre, including a stage, to host concerts, conferences, sporting and leisure events and trade shows that previously have not been able to come to Cork because of a lack of a suitable venue.
“This is a major project for Cork and the Munster region and would provide a multimillion euro boost to the local and regional economy annually,” said Mr O’Callaghan, adding he had been in discussion with a number of event management companies about the planned venue
“The 110,000sq ft building will also house restaurants, bars, merchandising and reception areas, as well as offices and service facilities,” said Mr O’Callaghan.
He said the centre would create 40 permanent jobs, while another 300 people would be employed during construction.
O’Callaghan Properties acquired the site more than four years ago and the company is ready to begin construction once planning permission has been granted, he added.
Last week, the council deferred a decision on a rival €150 million proposal for a 6,000-seater event centre planned by Heineken Ireland and BAM Contractors for the site of the former Beamish Crawford brewery on South Main Street in Cork.
The council had been due to give a decision on the project on June 7th but has sought further information from Heineken and BAM on the project, which is called the “Brewery Quarter”, and has given the joint partners six weeks to respond to a number of queries.
The Heineken/BAM project comprises a mixed scheme of shops, bars, restaurants, an eight-screen cinema, exhibition areas, 46 student apartments with 206 bed spaces and a viewing tower, as well as an event centre on the south inner city site.