Planners to recommend rezoning for retail project

PLANNERS in Cork city are poised to recommend a rezoning to facilitate the development of a “local retail centre” featuring a Tesco Express store in the western suburbs.

Councillors are expected to vote on the project, which is facing opposition from several local shop owners in the Bishopstown area, in the coming weeks.

The planners’ recommendation follows their assessment of a planning application by Melbourne Management, associated with developers Michael and John O’Flynn, to change uses of eight business, enterprise and light industrial units at the former Melbourne Business Centre, to provide a 4,500 square ft local retail centre, with off-licence and four other shops.