Developer behind €350m Cork Docklands project to remove commercial units for more apartments

Larchtown Limited, led by O'Callaghan Properties, said commercial units would be 'challenging to occupy' at the development's location on Kennedy Quay

Previously approved commercial uses included a cafe/bar, as well as a gym, gallery, retail, café or bakery.

The developers behind one of Cork City's most ambitious housing schemes have received permission to amend plans for a 160-apartment development on the South Docklands, which will see the removal of some ground-floor commercial units in favour of more apartments.

Larchtown Limited, led by Brian O'Callaghan of O'Callaghan Properties, who are behind the €350m docklands transformation plan, have been given the green light to amend the mixed-use development, modifying several units previously outlined for various commercial uses at the ground-floor level of the building, which is to be located at the rear of the Odlums building within the South Docklands.

These commercial uses included a cafe/bar, as well as a gym, gallery, retail, café or bakery. These will now be changed to additional residential apartments at the ground-floor level, comprising four two-bedroom units and one one-bedroom unit. The proposed amendment will result in an overall increase from 98 to 103 homes, the developer said.

In its application, Larchtown Limited said the changes “make far more efficient use of strategic urban regeneration land in the midst of a housing crisis than the permitted use.” 

It added that the permitted uses would be "challenging to occupy at this location," noting that such uses tend to be more attracted to the city centre or marketplaces such as the Marina Market or Black Market, which are both located close to the site within the South Docklands.

Cork City Council approved the modifications, granting permission with five conditions.

The 160-apartment development on Kennedy Quay is just one strand of O'Callaghan Property's €350m south docks plan, with a 130-bed private rehabilitation hospital also proposed for the corner of Kennedy Quay/Victoria Road, as well as 42,000 sq ft of office space also in the pipeline.

The project will involve the restoration and redevelopment of the iconic redbrick Odlums’ Mills building.

Cork’s docks are earmarked for up to 20,000 residential units, at locations like Kennedy Quay, along Centre Park Rd and the Marina, at the former Live at the Marquee site and on the north docks, including Horgans Quay, with a number of planning permissions granted.