Cork County Council confirmed that permission has been granted for the project, which will form part of the Cork Science and Innovation Park.
![A computer render of how the new office will look.]()
A computer render of how the new office at Curraheen will look.
The applicants, Soltaz Ltd, want to demolish the existing stadium and the training ground to make way for an office building of four to five storeys, to be constructed in two phases, and a single-storey cafe/restaurant.
The decision was confirmed yesterday on the same day as University College Cork’s announcement of a €27m western campus development, to include a hub building at the Science Park site — the first real signs that the park is finally moving forward after several years of stagnation.
The science park, which was originally mooted as far back as 2008, aims to deliver at least 1,000 jobs within 10 years and up to 6,000 when it is fully developed.
The 100-hectare site at Curraheen is designed to bring together a cluster of science, technology and research companies.
This is the third attempt by Soltaz to secure permission for the office development at the old FAI grounds in Curraheen after previous planning refusals.
Divisional manager with Cork County Council, Declan Daly, who has overseen much of the science park project, said: “It’s all very positive news. The UCC building will be the first major building on the science park site.”
Mr Daly confirmed that Cork County Council intends to carry out almost €1m development works to the Curraheen interchange to ensure better road access on to the site for the UCC project to go ahead.
The university yesterday confirmed a €241m capital investment plan, which includes €27 million to fund Western Campus Development including the Cork Science & Innovation Park.
Mr Daly said UCC has the potential to build its dental hospital and research centre at the Curraheen site.
The college announced yesterday that it is planning a €37 million investment to build a new Cork University Dental School, Research Centre and Hospital.
“The good thing is that the funding is there now and this is going to happen,” said Mr Daly.
