Plans for Cork office block to be converted to IPAS accommodation
An application has been made to An Bord Pleanála for The Cube building, an office block located near Cork's docklands, to be used for potential temporary housing for refugees and asylum seekers.
Development Management is seeking to understand if a temporary change of use of the basement, ground, first, second and third floors of the Cube building from office to residential accommodation for International Protection Applicants is an exempted development.
If it is an exempted development, the change of use would not require planning permission from Cork City Council.
The Cube building was constructed in 2007 and was formerly known as 'Phoenix House'.
Regus took over the top floor of the building and has since expanded to offer co-working spaces and offices in the building. Companies Dassault Systems and Microchip also have offices in the building.
The application to An Bord Pleanála is due to be decided by August 27.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
New hotel owners dismiss plans for IPAS centre in Meath
In recent weeks, The Pillo Hotel in Ashbourne was purchased by The McDermott Group, which also owns the Ashbourne Court Hotel and the Carnegie Court Hotel in Swords. Owner Richard McDermott issued a statement confirming there were no such plans for an IPAS centre in the 156-room hotel. "I wish to confirm that The Pillo Hotel was recently purchased by the McDermott Group.' 'I also wish to clarify that The Pillo Hotel is not housing any International Protection Applicants nor does it have any plans whatsoever to do so in the future,' Mr McDermott said. 'We remain fully committed to operating as a 4 star Hotel in all markets and contrary to recent social media speculation, we will not be accepting IPAS now or in the future.' 'The recent speculation on the hotel and the false and misleading rumours regarding same have been and furthermore can be very harmful to our business and very disruptive and unsettling to all of our 150+ staff.' 'We wish to clarify and hereby commit to the following... There are massive and exciting plans ahead to invest in the property. We have already engaged the relevant specialists to assist us refurbish all of our bedrooms, expand our leisure club gym space including replacing all gym equipment and enhance our bar and restaurant.' 'As the new owners of The Pillo Hotel we would like to ensure both the local and national communities of our intent to deliver and improve the present and successful offering at The Pillo Hotel.' The statement added: 'We look forward to building and producing continued success and greatly appreciate the support of all of our guests and patrons." In correspondence to elected members, Meath County Council confirmed it had received no approach from the Department of Justice on the matter. 'Regarding the purchase of the Pillo Hotel and the potential conversion into an IPAS centre. It is important to clarify that this is a matter for the property owner and the Department of Justice, Meath County Council's position is not to comment on speculation or on commercial transactions or decisions made by the Department of Justice,' the local authority said. 'We can however confirm that Meath Council Council has not received any correspondence from the Department in relation to the Pillo Hotel being used for IPAS accommodation.' Ashbourne councillor Helen Meyer said: 'This is positive news. The hotel is vital and integral to our town and the surrounding areas.' 'I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to be cautious about the sources of their news. There are people online who spread misinformation deliberately and without facing any consequences. Such unverified information can have a damaging impact on our community,' she added. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
‘It's a great chance to showcase Cork': The rise and rise of Cork on a Fork food festival
When Cork City Council's Cork on a Fork food festival returns next week (August 13-17), it will be with all the burgeoning confidence of a child that has finally found favour. It was a different picture, in 2022, when the festival was first mooted. It was pitched as a council attempt to stimulate post-covid recovery, but to the local hospitality sector, ravaged by the pandemic, it appeared a step too far. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Take us with you this summer. Annual €130€65 Best value Monthly €12€6 / month
The Journal
5 days ago
- The Journal
‘Waste of taxpayer money': €2.5m spent on Cork housing estate now being partially demolished
A CORK COUNCILLOR has described the €2.5 million spent on a housing estate in Cork which is now being partially demolished as a 'complete waste of taxpayers' money'. The delivery of 24 homes in the Kilmore Road area of Knocknaheeny was included as part of the Cork City Northwest Quarter Regeneration (CNWQR) Masterplan, which was launched in 2011. Work started at the site in March of 2020 but was halted a few months later, leaving homes in an unfinished state for several years. When asked about the Knockaheeny project in the Dáil last year, then-Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said he had been informed that the project was stalled due to 'complex contractual negotiations' with the previous contractor. The dispute was settled last May and the project was then put out for tender again last July, with a cost estimate of €5 million, in order to restart and finish the project. Works started up again under a new contractor this summer and locals said it appeared as though the unfinished homes were being demolished. At a recent Cork City Council meeting, Sinn Féin councillor Kenneth Collins asked the council for the total amount paid to the original contractor. He also enquired about 'the percentage amount of work complete that will require demolition and the cost of this demolition'. The Council said the original contractor had been paid close to €2.5 million last May and that '0% of the works complete will require demolition'. 'There's guys up there with Kango hammers taking down blocks,' Collins told The Journal . 'In my opinion, if a structure is up and you have guys Kango hammering blocks down, that's demolition.' The Journal / YouTube He said structures which were once three-storey have since been reduced to two-storeys and that the Council informed him that 'there was partial demolition happening'. Advertisement Collins said it's been a 'complete waste of taxpayers' money' and questioned the methods behind awarding the original contract. He added that councillors had wanted to 'cut loose' the original contractor so that the 'much-needed homes' could be built. 'Eventually it had to go back out to tender and there is a new company in constructing the houses now. 'But they are demolishing the houses and taking housing down. 'I have videos where you can hear the Kango hammer in the background.' Cork City Council will come before the Oireachtas Housing Committee in the next Dáil term and Collins said 'questions need to be answered'. Meanwhile, party colleague and Cork TD Thomas Gould remarked that there is 'clear evidence of demolition'. 'Why the Council would issue us with a response saying that no demolition is taking place is beyond me when anyone with two eyes can see that contractors are on site removing work that was completed.' Gould said locals have been living 'beside a building site for years on end' and that the Council has 'broken commitment after commitment when it came to this site'. 'And now what we have is an admission that €2.5m has been paid to a builder when the Council themselves said there were issues with quality' said Gould. 'What is being done to recoup this money? Are developers now allowed to walk away with taxpayers money after leaving sites like this half-built for years?' He said the issue is 'indicative of a government who put developers before people' and that 'construction inflation and the cost of demolition likely means the final cost will be double, if not triple, the original projection'. Gould added that this has 'caused huge delays to a regeneration project that was already moving at glacial pace'. Cork City Council has been approached for comment. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
