CORK CITY COUNCIL is poised to award a lucrative contract to a PR firm to brand and market its multi-billion docklands regeneration project.

PLANNING permission has been sought for what is billed as “a catalyst site” for one of the first significant moves into Cork city’s south docks, in a multi-billion-euro development project.

GOVERNMENT, Exchequer and IDA commitment will be needed to secure Cork docklands redevelopment and to provide a counter-balance to the burgeoning Dublin region, according to the developers behind an estimated €2 billion masterplan for a 32-acre site on Cork’s south docks.