Shoppers’ paradise unveiled

IMAGES of Cork’s newest shopping precinct which is being developed in one of the city’s most historic trading areas were unveiled yesterday.

Shoppers got their first glimpse of how the multi-million euro shopping centre which is being built on the former Guy’s site on Cornmarket Street will look once finished.

Advertising hoardings went up on Peter’s Lane and Paul Street showing the Cornmarket Centre — a five-storey shopping centre with a curved sweeping roof, large panes of frosted glass, steel support structures, and incorporating the landmark facade of the former Guy’s and Co building.

The facade of the former Guy’s building is propped up by scaffolding and protected as construction work continues on the site to the rear.

It is expected the development, which will attract major retailers into the city, will be launched in a blaze of publicity by Irish and European auctioneers within weeks.

The images also included views of a vast paved and pedestrianised area along the Coal Quay which will be developed by the city council in a €5 million revamp.

The council has advertised for architectural and engineering organisations to design a new streetscape in the area.

The tender involves designing pavements, lighting and street furniture as well as creating enhancing features.

A council spokesman said the aim of the project was to accommodate the existing uses but to serve the public in a much better way.

But some of the more established traders manning the traditional stalls on the Coal Quay were unimpressed.

They declined to comment officially on either project yesterday but some complained of constant disruption from the Guy’s building site.

They also criticised the city council for a lack of consultation on the Coal Quay revamp project.