Appeals board clears game-changing Capitol cinema development project for Cork

By Eoin English, Irish Examiner

The ambitious €50m redevelopment of the landmark Capitol cinema site in the heart of Cork city has been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála.

The appeals board ruling, which was formally issued this morning, clears the way for work on the long-awaited project - described as a game-changer for the city - to begin within weeks.

John Cleary Developments' (JCD) 85,000 sq ft scheme will feature three floors of shops, which could employ up to 100 people, and two floors of high-spec offices across some 36,000 sq ft, providing accommodation for up to 350 workers.

The plans also include the refurbishment of the Oyster Tavern; the development of a food innovation hub in the former Central Shoe Stores site in partnership with the English Market; and the creation of a new street leading in to the market.

In its ruling, the board has ordered that the fourth floor of the building be recessed.

Property and retail experts say the entire development will breathe new life into the western side of the city, and, when combined with the development of the proposed 6,000-seat events centre on nearby South Main Street, will reinvigorate the entire city centre.

Up to 200 jobs will be created during the construction phase, which is expected to take between 12 and 15 months.

The strategic 0.63-acre block which has frontage onto St Patrick's St and the Grand Parade, and which abuts the English Market, has lain derelict for almost a decade.

City planners gave the plan for the green light in July.

But the decision was appealed by An Taisce Corcaigh and Michael Corrigan (Super Fruit), a trader in the neighbouring English Market.

Today's decision now clears the way for the scheme to proceed.

BREAKING: The ambitious €50m Capitol cinema project has been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanala #Cork pic.twitter.com/2fnPBdaGsG

— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) December 18, 2015

Developer John Cleary said last July that talks with high-profile retail brands and potential office occupiers were well advanced.

He has consistently declined to comment on speculation that Zara is among the anchor tenants.

Mr Cleary, the developer behind the City Gate office campus in Mahon Point, is also developing the One Albert Quay office block, which is due to open early next year.

The 200,000 sq ft office will have capacity for 2,000 workers. The project is one of the largest office block developments in the city centre in decades.