Thursday, January 20, 2011

Dean fears brewery plan may block cathedral views

PLANS FOR a €150 million redevelopment of the Beamish brewery in Cork may need to be altered to protect views of the city’s landmark St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.

Dean of Cork, based at St Fin Barre’s, the Very Rev Nigel Dunne expressed his concerns for the preservation of protected views of the cathedral at a meeting organised by site owners Heineken Ireland last Tuesday night.

The proposal for the former Beamish brewery site on South Main Street includes an events centre, cinemas, retail, offices and student accommodation housed in seven buildings ranging in height from four to seven storeys.

The plans provide for a 6,000-seat events centre to be built on the riverbank that could interrupt views of St Fin Barre’s from South Gate Bridge, according to Dean Dunne. 

While supportive of the overall project, he is advocating a redesign of the riverside building to protect views of the cathedral.

“I don’t think it would take a lot to scale back the events centre away from the river, a design change would be helpful there. I am generally happy with the plans, though I do have some reservations,” he said.

Heineken Ireland lodged plans last month as part of a joint venture with construction firm BAM Contractors. 

The existing 17th century Counting House building with its mock Tudor facade is to be retained and will house a shopping arcade and a museum where old brewing equipment from the site will be displayed.

The scheme, titled “The Brewery Quarter”, will provide pedestrian links through the site to St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in the form of a new pedestrian bridge between Parliament Bridge and South Gate Bridge.

Dean Dunne said he would like to see the focus on brewing expanded to include sites of historic importance, including St Fin Barre’s.

“I am concerned with the sole focus on brewing, I think this is an opportunity to provide greater links with historic sites such as the Elizabeth Fort and the cathedral, this is after all where the city of Cork was founded, where St Fin Barre built his monastery,” he said.

The plans include a broad range of elements, including office, shopping and artist space – elements of the plan the Dean of Cork supports.

“The mix of uses is to be welcomed and the pedestrian bridge creates an additional route to the cathedral quarter of the city so that is certainly a good thing,” Dean Dunne said.

SIC: IT/IE