Hope for jobs boost as Apple seeks to build office block at its Cork HQ

Hopes of a significant jobs boost have been raised after technology giant Apple applied to build a new office building beside its existing European headquarters on the northside of Cork City.

The company has sought planning permission for a three-storey office block at the Hollyhill Industrial Estate on the Kilmore Rd.

That block will be linked to Apple’s existing building by a pedestrian bridge. A separate planning notice has been filed for an extension of Apple’s car park.

According to the planning application, that extension will be used to service the new office block.

The planning notices, filed in today’s newspaper, come just four days after Cork City Council unveiled major plans for the area of the northside surrounding the Apple headquarters.

That announcement prompted speculation of the creation of a vast hi-tech campus there.

On Monday, the council confirmed plans for:

* An 850m road through lands at Knocknacullen West and East — from the roundabout outside the Apple plant on Harbour View Rd to the junction of Nash’s Boreen/Hollyhill Rd and Kilmore Heights. The stretch of road directly outside the Apple plant will close to public traffic, and the new public road will sweep around the plant’s staff car parks;

* The disposal of a large tract of land near the Apple car parks to the IDA, which went ahead on Monday, and plans to dispose of an adjoining site in the coming weeks;

* The rezoning of a large tract of Apple land, directly east of its plant, from residential to light industry use.

To date, Apple and the IDA have not commented on possible job announcements. However, Cork City manager Tim Lucey said on Monday night that the road project would be of significant “long-term benefit” to the city.

Apple has been in Ireland since 1981 and its European headquarters in Hollyhill is large enough to house at least 2,500 staff.