Huge news for Cork city.

O’Callaghan Properties announced this morning that it would be lodging plans with Cork City Council for a development that would transform Cork’s South Docks.

According to proposals published today, the 4,162-acre site will stretch from Marina Walk onto the River Lee at Kennedy Quay to a boundary marked by Victoria Road and Mill Road to the east.

The first phase of this development, which is costed at €350 million and will cover 1 million square feet, promises massive changes to the area, including:

• 122,000 sq.ft. 130-bed rehabilitation hospital
• 450,000 sq. ft. of office and mixed use in 3 buildings ranging in height from 9 to 12 storeys
• 80,000 sq. ft. 11 storey building with 80 “build to sell” apartments
• The restoration and re-purposing of the derelict Odlums Mills to create two 7 and 9 storey buildings incorporating 84 one, two and three bed apartments, cinema, food hall, office space and a new 360-degree landmark rooftop destination in the city
• Creation of new public realm and amenity space facilitating a new connection to the river with net biodiversity, pedestrian and cycleway gains

The Rehabilitation Hospital will be operated by ORPEA Group, the French multinational healthcare company. The hospital will be the only such facility in Ireland outside of Dublin and is aimed at addressing a lack of regional healthcare infrastructure.

O’Callaghan have provided details on how they plan to preserve the history of the Odlums building, erected in 1933, saying: “It is proposed to retain all of the significant historic fabric to the front, rear and side facades of the original building along with the upper floor extension. Many of the structural elements to the interior are to be retained and restored.

“It is intended to remove the later, poor-quality construction to the south and the extension to the original western gable to reveal the original historic building gable. 

“Significant features and fabric of architectural and/ or industrial heritage historic interest from areas of the building are proposed to be carefully removed and salvaged. It is intended to re-use and feature some equipment internally and externally where feasible.”

The R&H silos will be demolished, however, with O’Callaghan Properties saying “from visual inspection  it is… clear that there is a deterioration in elements of the buildings’ fabric,  in particular cracking and concrete spalling in the walls. In effect, these buildings and their  materials have exceeded their design life intent.”

The new project has been designed by architecture firm Henry J. Lyons, known for its work on buildings such as the Central Bank of Ireland and the Criminal Courts of Justice buildings in Dublin, as well as Navigation Square and Lancaster Quay in Cork.

Brian O’Callaghan, managing director of O’Callaghan Properties, said: “Cork city’s population is projected to increase by 50% by 2040. Docklands will drive rapid economic development for Cork and already has shown itself capable of hosting large scale multinational and indigenous investment projects.

“It is largely under-utilised and presents a wonderful opportunity for the City to expand Eastwards. The development of Docklands is a major focus of Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan and is a key element of the current and proposed City Development Plan.”