Fears for Cork's bonded warehouse four years after approval for Ireland's tallest building

Irish Examiner

a day ago

City Hall says it is engaging with the owners of the historic bonded warehouse on Cork City's landmark Custom House site amid concerns about the deterioration of the protected structure.
Planning was granted more than four years ago to Tower Development Properties for the multi-million redevelopment of the privately-owned docklands gateway site to include a soaring 34-storey, 240-bedroom hotel – twice the height of the nearby Elysian building - and a range of commercial uses.
The ambitious plan included the refurbishment and extension of the bonded warehouse to provide for a maritime museum and visitor centre, a distillery, as well as various retail, food, beverage and office units. But work has yet to start.
At the June meeting of Cork City Council on Monday, historian and Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy sought an update on the status of the bonded warehouse building.
The council's director of services for planning and integrated development, Niall O'Donnabháin, said there is still a live planning application on this site, approved by the city council in 2019, upheld by An Bórd Pleanála in 2021, but the site is in private ownership and responsibility for it rests with the owners.
'Cork City Council fully supports the development of this important heritage and gateway site,' he said.
'Following engagement, the owner remains focused on developing the site in line with the granted planning permission and Cork City Council will assist where possible, including exploring potential funding opportunities, to see this realised.'
An artist's impression of the proposed mixed-use development at the old Port of Cork site on Custom House Quay.
But Mr McCarthy said more needs to be done, adding: 'I note there is a live planning application on the site, but is there anything that can be done to halt the apparent decline of the building fabric? It is horrific to watch."
Mr Ó Donnabháin said the council is following up with the site owners from a derelict sites and protected structures perspective.
'We are taking it very, very seriously. We are trying to encourage all aspects of this development, to ensure work is done to protect the buildings which are of national significance,' he said.
An Taisce and artist John Adams were among the objectors to the redevelopment of the Custom House site, citing concerns about the height of the hotel, its impact on the city's skyline, and the scheme's wider impact on the history and heritage of the site, which contains three protected structures - the 1814-built bonded warehouse, the Custom House, and the Revenue Building.
The three-storey bonded warehouse was built in 1814-19 and contains vaulted stores with stone spiral stairs within external semi-circular towers providing access to the upper floors. It has been unused for several years.
The Custom House was built in 1818. The Cork Harbour Commissioners moved into the building in 1904 and built an extension to it in 1906 consisting of a boardroom and offices.
The Revenue Building was built in 1814-19 and is a two-storey cut-stone structure between the Custom House to the west and the bonded warehousing to the east. It has been largely vacant for a number of years.