Academics object to high-rise hotel

Eoin English and Sean O’Riordan

Twelve staff members of University College Cork’s department of archaeology warned that O’Callaghan Properties’ plans for Jurys’ Hotel on the Western Road will block views of historic St Fin Barre’s Cathedral from parts of the city’s northside.

They also accused the developer of being “selective” in the Visual Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact Study on sections dealing with light and views.

The 12, along with other groups, including the Dean and Chapter and Select Vestry of St Fin Barres Cathedral, have now lodged objections with An Bórd Pleanála against the city council’s decision last December to grant permission for the redevelopment.

O’Callaghan Properties has permission to demolish the 1960s-built low-rise 185-bedroom hotel on Lancaster Quay.

A high-rise 182-bedroom hotel, a 400-plus space underground car park and five high-rise apartment blocks, ranging from three to nine stories high, are earmarked for the site.

Dr Barra Ó Donnabháin, a lecturer in UCC’s archaeology department, said his colleagues aren’t against the hotel revamp per se.

“But the low-rise approach that was taken to the site in the past should be continued,” the group said.

Mr Ó Donnabháin’s group also claimed the development would contravene the city’s development plan which specifically excludes high-rise developments from historic areas of the city.

“The location of the proposed development is an important part of the historic area of the medieval city, being on the only intact, non-culverted island of the original chain on which the city developed,” he said.

A spokesman for O’Callaghan Properties said: “These views were presented to the city council at the start of the planning stage. They were seriously considered at the time but the council disagreed with them,” he said.

The hotel development is due to begin on February 28.