E25m revamp of Kent Station ‘completed by 2007’

Mary Dundon, Political Reporter

But the redevelopment of the bigger Kent Station site at Horgan’s Quay is still stalled because CIÉ and Cork City Council cannot agree on how the site should be developed.

Oireachtas Communications Committee chairman Deputy Noel O’Flynn’s said he met with the CIÉ chairman yesterday and Mr Lynch confirmed the E25m refurbishment of Kent Station will go ahead and is expected to be completed by 2007.

Under the Cork City Development Plan, the Horgan Quay’s site is zoned for housing, offices, leisure activity, hotels and retail related to the railway station but not in competition with any retail site in the city centre.

Cork City manager Joe Gavin last week accused CIÉ of holding up the development of one of the city’s most strategic sites.

Mr Gavin said the semi- State company’s failure to advance the redevelopment plans for the Kent Railway Station site was one of “his biggest disappointments.”

The city manager believes the Kent Station site at Horgan’s Quay is the best location for an indoor events centre that could hold 5,000 people.

“Cork should have a venue like the Point Depot so people do not have to travel to Dublin or Killarney for major concerts and the Horgan’s Quay site is most suitable for that,” Mr Gavin said.

CIÉ wants to maximise the value it gets for the site and wants a mix of major retail stores, houses and a hotel on the site.