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