Empty units on Patrick's Street – Crisis or Opportunity?

City planners could use changing times as an opportunity to consider a relaxing of restrictions in relation to uses for some of the retail units on Leesisde’s main thoroughfare.

The former Roches Stores site will probably require redevelopment and repurposing to suit the new market that we find ourselves in. Pic: Larry Cummins

Over the past number of weeks there has been a lot of focus and publicity in relation to the demise and fate of the retail market and in particular the increased vacancy of units on St Patrick’s Street in the city centre, Cork and Munster’s premier retail high street as well as in suburban shopping centres.

Much of the blame in relation to this has been laid at the feet of the Coronavirus but in truth the occupational retail market has been under serious pressure and has been changing for some time.