Development of Cork city’s newest quayside complex will help ‘finish the area’, says local architect.

The developers behind the €120 million hotel and apartment quayside complex, Murrayforde Developments, have welcomed the approval granted by Cork City Council.

Their proposal consists of a 120-bedroom hotel and 80 apartments on a 0.39 hectare site on Kyrl's Quay near Cornmarket Street, on the north channel of the River Lee.

Architect James Leahy, of Leahy and Associates, expressed satisfaction with the council decision and said the design helped "finish the area", which has recently seen major development.

He said he also believed the project would link well with the nearby pedestrian Shandon Bridge leading to the north side of the city and pointed out that the building maintained the roof line with recent developments.

An agreement has already been reached with a major hotel chain to operate the hotel, which includes a bar, cafe/restaurant, conference facilities, gym and leisure centre.

The residential part of the development includes 80 apartments which rise to eight storeys at the western end of the complex, and fronts onto Kyrl's Quay.

Another feature of the project is a two-storey basement which, in addition to the hotel leisure centre and kitchens, will include an underground car park.

The proposal involves the modification of two structures that have been proposed for protection, an old public toilet and the gateway to the former Cork Timber and Slate premises dating from 1856, both on Kyrl's Street.

The 19th-century gateway will be incorporated into the new development, while the public toilet will be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere.

Murrayforde Developments plan to start construction on the project early 2009.

Source: Irish Times