Green light for Prism project

Plans for a skyscraper at the Custom House are to be lodged mid-July, the Cork Independent has learned.

The planning application will be lodged from the same company that was granted planning permission for the nearby 15 storey Prism this week.

With investment of €20 million, it is expected that the Prism building will create over 100 jobs on site during its development.

Tower Holdings Group had already received the green light for the project from the city council, however heritage group An Táisce appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála.

Commenting on the decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant the project, Tower Holdings Director of Operations (Ireland) Conor Lee said: “The Prism building will be transformative for Cork’s city centre, and will serve to regenerate this area of the city centre. There is a strong demand for offices and commercial buildings within Cork city centre. In order to continue to attract investment into Cork, to accommodate commercial expansion and to meet the projections of Project Ireland 2040, Cork needs to have a supply of modern, fully equipped buildings where the growing population of Cork can work in a vibrant and dynamic environment.”

Located in the heart of the city, close to Parnell Bus Station, the €20 million Prism development plans to reinvigorate this area of the city, providing office units and creating a modern cityscape for Cork.

Meanwhile An Taisce Corcaigh said it was “extremely disappointed by An Bord Planála's decision”.

In a statement, the group said: “This building will have a major adverse impact on the historic city centre of Cork which we feel can be redeveloped with quality contemporary architecture without resorting to tall buildings, more appropriate to the downriver docklands setting.

“Indeed, An Taisce has been broadly supportive of a number of new office developments east of the city centre. Speculative office development is a feature of our current economic cycle but it must be inserted into quality historic cityscapes in an appropriate way, so as not to damage their tourist potential and quality of life.

“Our appeal against this development was a comprehensive and considered one, mirroring many of the points made by senior planners in the Cork City Council in their very strong recommendation to refuse planning. Despite this, the proposal was approved by the city council management.”