Report set to kickstart Cork events centre

A fresh bid will be made tonight to kickstart the development of a publicly funded multimillion-euro conference centre in Cork.

City manager Tim Lucey is expected to bring a key report to councillors which has confirmed the economic need for, and economic viability of, just one such facility in the city.

City councillors are then expected to agree to offer up to €6m to help get the project off the ground.

It is understood that developers will have to make submissions to council, or tender, for the investment, setting out how much public funding they need, and the benefits their project could bring to the city.

Lord Mayor John Buttimer said tonight’s report, compiled by accountancy firm PwC, marks an important stage in the process of delivering an events centre for the city.

“I have been anxious for some time to see progress on this, and with this report, we are now moving the process on,” he said.

Three sites are in the running, with two at a very advanced stage in the planning process.

BAM, with site owners Heineken Ireland, has planning permission for its €150m proposal on the former brewery site on South Main St. It includes a 6,000-seat event centre, cinema, student apartments, restaurants, shops, bars, and galleries.

Meanwhile, developer Owen O’Callaghan is awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanála on his €50m 5,000-seat venue, with concert organisers Live Nation’s involvement, for a two-acre site on Albert Quay.

And planning permission granted to Howard Holdings in 2009 for a €33m conference centre on a docklands site off Centre Park Rd, is still valid.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said last week that he is determined to see ground break on an events centre in Cork this year.