An Taisce Corcaigh is extremely disappointed by An Bord Planála's decision to grant permission for a 15 storey tall building on Clontarf Street, in Cork city centre.

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.

It is clear that the 2018 revised building height guidelines introduced by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government mandated the board to approve a tall building regardless of the location and the many adverse impacts which were highlighted during the planning and appeal stages. Clearly, these guidelines are a major backward step in proper and sustainable planning in our cities and towns, and need to be amended without delay by the Minister to be more site specific.

ENDS

For further information, contact:
Ian Lumley, Advocacy Officer, An Taisce: +353 1 454 1786
Charles Stanley-Smith, Communications, An Taisce. Tel: +353 87 241 1995
email: [email protected]
An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland