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Cork Setting Example with Tall Buildings

July, 2008

Davis Langdon PKS, one of the largest construction consultants in Ireland, say Cork is setting the example for the rest of the country when it comes to tall buildings.

Speaking at a seminar on tall buildings last night (Thursday, 10 July 2008), Davis Langdon PKS Managing Director Norman Craig said, “While Dublin is still in the process of discussions and deliberations regarding planning of tall buildings, Cork has gone beyond that point and is already delivering tall buildings for the city.” 

The seminar was hosted by Davis Langdon PKS in Cork County Hall and was held in the context of a recent submission of the largest single planning application in the history of Cork city. This contains two tall buildings including Cork’s Iconic Tower which will be taller than any existing building in the city.

The application includes a 28 storey building which will be significantly taller than any existing building in Ireland at the moment. Mr. Craig said, “This iconic building, designed by Foster + Partners in the Atlantic Quarter in the Cork South Docklands will be eleven stories taller than the current tallest building in Ireland, The Elysian in Cork, which is 17 stories tall.”

The building will be a 28 storey residential tower with retail outlets located on the ground floor. The plan also includes a public viewing gallery at the top of the building.  Vital to the overall viability of the project will be the Eastern Gateway Bridge which will provide much needed infrastructure connections to the South Docklands area.

Building work is expected to begin on the tower in mid 2009 providing planning permission is granted.

Davis Langdon PKS are specialists in tall buildings with experience all over the world. Led by Steve Watts from London, the Tall Buildings Specialist Group in DLPKS have gathered knowledge and expertise from working on over 100 tower projects around the world.

Speaking at last night’s seminar, Steve Watts said, “From our experience in tall buildings we can see that growth in any particular area is usually determined by the location of tall buildings. They are vital for the development of areas and this has been recognized by Cork City Council’s Tall Building Policy.”

Cork’s Tall Building policy identifies where tall buildings will be appropriate in principle and where they will not be appropriate. It also provides guidance on the height of proposed tall buildings. The policy has determined that in addition to County Hall and the Elysian Tower, tall buildings will also be appropriate in:

Docklands;
North Blackpool; and
South Mahon.