Council starts clearing derelict Kyrl’s St site for redevelopment

O'Kelly Bros demolition contractors on site at the former Cork Timber, Slate and Cement Co site on Kyrl's Street, Cork, adjacent to Bridewell Garda Station. Pictures: Larry Cummins 

A Cork city centre riverside site that has been idle for several years is being cleared with a view to redevelopment as part of Cork City Council’s ongoing battle to tackle dereliction. The 0.39 hectare site between Kyrl’s Quay and Kyrl’s St near the Bridewell Garda Station was previously earmarked for a major hotel/leisure and apartment project but the development never went ahead.

A spokesman for the local authority said the current site clearance and stabilisation work is to “facilitate access to undertake a series of site surveys and investigations to inform project information documents and enable advertisement of a tender process seeking redevelopment proposals”.

“It is envisaged this tender will be advertised over the next few weeks,” the spokesman added.

The site was once the subject of a Murrayforde developers planning application. In 2008 Murrayforde applied for planning permission for a “prestige development” featuring a hotel, bar, cafe/restaurant, conference facilities, a swimming pool, gym, and spa, and seven-storey 80 apartment complex framing Shandon views.

However, in 2009 ACC Bank appointed receivers and managers to the company. At that time, the developers said their intention was to continue with the hotel and event centre project.

The work never went ahead and the site became derelict.

Cork City Council notice of intention to acquire a derelict site at Kyrl's Quay in the city centre

In October 2024 Cork City Council posted a notice of its intention to compulsorily acquire the site under the Derelict Sites Act 1990.

The ‘Island site’ near Cornmarket Street is detailed by the Council as running alongside the Bridewell Garda Station for some 29 metres and extending for approximately 49.5 metres along Kyrl’s Street.

The unevenly-shaped site is also partly adjacent to a service yard for the former North Main Street shopping Centre, as well as a derelict warehouse.

The Council spokesman said: “Cork City Council has received approval for the acquisitions of more than 90 sites through the Department of Housing’s urban regeneration and development funding (URDF) scheme, a revolving fund that covers some acquisitions costs and reduces associated risks. The majority of identified sites are returned to use by the owner following engagement, avoiding potential Compulsory Purchase.”

Nearly 600 Cork city properties have been returned to use since 2023.

A record 301 long-term vacant or derelict homes were returned to use in 2025 — significantly up on the 57 in 2023 and 231 in 2024.

The council spokesman said: “The figures show that grants and incentives, combined with increased engagement and enforcement, are yielding results.”

Other options for dealing with disused property in the city and driving an increased return to use include the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, Conservation grants and a Derelict Sites Levy.

Cork City Council has collected more than €3 million in derelict site levies since 2020 — these are charged at 7% of a property’s value.

The Counil spokesman explained: “Where a site is not returned to use, a compulsory acquisition under the Derelict Sites Act, 1990, may be necessary with Cork City Council completing vesting of 25 sites since 2021 and currently engaged in a further programme of compulsory acquisitions for 2026. This activity is an important necessity in the fight against dereliction.”