Developer withdraws office block plan

Plans for a nine-storey office block in the heart of Cork City with the potential to deliver up to 2,000 jobs have been withdrawn — even though the local authority gave it the green light.

The 200,000sq ft riverside building on Albert Quay proposed by John Cleary Developments was expected to accommodate 500 staff of anticipated anchor tenant, Swiss security systems multinational, Tyco.

Cork City Council granted planning permission for the development in February. However, by early March, it had been referred to An Bord Pleanála with three objectors.