Cork City is undergoing a huge amount of change and as development continues at Horgan’s Quay, a new dawn awaits and it is exciting to see how it comes together. The Horgan’s Quay (HQ Cork) development is being developed by Clarendon and BAM and its transformation is being widely praised for its modernisation of an area that will serve office space for 5,000 workers as well a 136-bedroom hotel on a 6.1 acre site and 237 apartments. The development is costing a cool €160 million.
What were otherwise disused railway lands are now being transformed into a new and innovative part of the city with homes, shops, offices, bars and a hotel. The restoration of historical buildings and structures merging with contemporary and modern buildings is something the development has paid attention to and it is sticking to its roots. The historic buildings include a limestone carriage shed, a station master’s house and a goods shed but they are not only being restored but being integrated into the new development. The buildings have a long history dating back to the 1850s and each building has been considered to develop a new and vibrant area that composes the hotel quarter, residential quarter and the office complex.
Cork City is known for its lively disposition and being a wonderful place to live, work or visit. Cork City is the second largest city in Ireland and as of the last census (2016) it had a population of 125,657. Cork City is home to many high profile colleges including University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology to name a few and in terms of companies and working opportunities, Cork City has it all. Like any city, the area boasts many shopping opportunities, local walks and food and drink options but there is something rather special about the city itself, it is friendly and bursting with vibrant conversation and character. Situated in the heart of Cork, Horgan’s Quay will enjoy everything the spectacular City has to offer – culture, amenities and as we often mention, a sense of place.
Cork City has always been a place that is recognised for its ambition and with the development of HQ Cork it will see more global talent locating into the area. Residential costs are lower than that of those in Dublin City and there is an abundance of talented and educated workforce ready for the right opportunity. The infrastructure is in place; furthermore, Cork City is known for its startups who consistently innovate and the area boasts many companies who are enjoying the best of Cork City.
Residentially, HQ Cork has acknowledged the need for residential accommodation in an area that will house 5,000 office workers. According to the latest report by Daft,ie, the average price of a house in Cork, is €253,033 – up 9.3% on 2017 – while Cork City specifically, was up 4.4% on last year at €285,941. In this project there will be 237 apartments built across 4 blocks to provide accommodation to workers.
Cork City is great for those who simply want to sightsee and enjoy the best of the city, it boasts walking areas and it is an ideal base for tourists, as it allows for trips to well-known tourist sites including, Cobh, a nearby village in Cork that is a gorgeous spot with lots of history. Some Titanic fans will remember Cobh was the last place Titanic visited before its doomed maiden voyage. Blarney Castle as well as the famous Blarney Stone is only a short drive away. Kinsale is famous for its seafood and it is one place, visitors to the area should visit. The Wild Atlantic Way is in the back garden and it along with other incredible tourist attractions offers residents and workers in the city a good balance of work and life.
But let’s get back to what is on Cork City’s doorstep as there are several options for tourists and residents to the area including, live music, theatre, art exhibitions and dance. Festivals are a regular occurrence to the city and Cork City is a real foodie lovers paradise with traditional fares and food markets too. Professionals who enjoy shopping will be blessed with boutiques, global brands and Merchants Quay Shopping Centre too. The fitness fanatic can be well entertained with a host of sporting events and activities including, hurling, football and gyms/sports centres to name a few.
In terms of the local area and how HQ Cork will benefit is that, it is situated in a great location with the sort of prospects that will attract talent and retain it in the area. When professionals are looking for work they look for the best and what workers want is work/life balance that the HQ Cork can offer. Close to public transport links and centrally located (mere minutes walk away), HQ Cork is also close (15 minutes by car) to Ireland’s second largest airport which is ideal for busy professionals who need to travel for work. The facilities are perfectly placed to appeal to modern professionals and apparently, office tenants at HQ will be given priority for residential accommodation. For employees that will be commuting the development has direct access to the new entrance at Kent Railway Station and is a two minute walk from the central bus station at Parnell Place. If you fancy the ferry, Cork Ringaskiddy Ferry Port is located less than 20 kilometres from the City.
The €160 million development is considered one of the most ambitious developments ever seen in the city and its regeneration is crucial to the renovation and revamp of Cork’s docklands. The initial plans were met with some skepticism and planners had their work cut out for them for a happy ending to this development.
One of the main things was to develop it into a place that everyone would love and we think it will achieve just that!
Find out more about the development on the Horgan’s Quay website.