Council forced to put site back on market

Efforts to sell a publicly-owned landbank in Cork — which have been mired in controversy since 2011 — look set to be scrapped again.

The latest twist in the Deanrock site saga follows confirmation last night that a major player on Cork’s retail scene has offered €500,000 for the 2.83-acre site — €50,000 more than what’s on the table now.

Following legal advice, city officials told councillors last night that since they now have a higher offer, they can’t legally sell the site under the terms of the current disposal process because the previous €450,000 offer is not the “best reasonably obtainable”.