Cork City Council grants permission for 173-bedroom hotel at Leisureplex Site, 1 MacCurtain Street, Cork city

In context

There were 151 nationally in the past twelve months. Of the 317 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 88% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 11 September 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Cork City Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

Permission for development ona site of c. 0.24 hectares at the Leisureplex site located at 1 MacCurtain Street and Brian Boru Street Cork T23TE84. The site includes a protected structure RPS Ref. PS007 former postal sorting offices. the proposed development will comprise a hotel development consisting of the demolition of the existing buildings on site (c. 2576 sq m) the retention of and modifications to the façade of the former postal sorting offices protected structure to Brian Boru Street (c.25 sq m) (including alterations and repair works to the façade comprising the replacement of existing windows removal of redundant electrical services piped services and the removal of existing signage and ancillary elements) the development of 1 5 and 7 no storey (with setbacks) (excluding roof access areas and roof plant) building to provide a hotel (173 no bedrooms and related ancillary hotel facilities including reception area lobby public bar licensed restaurant kitchen cold room storage areas administration and staff facilities plant refuse area and bicycle parking area) with a total new build gross floor of c. 7660 sqm (excluding c. 25 sq m retained façade) associated lighting pedestrian and bicycle access/egress bicycle parking sustainable urban drainage systems (including green/blue roofs and attenuation tanks) plant and switch rooms roof mounted photovoltaic panels roof plant and associated screening bin store associated hard and soft landscaping and all other associated site excavation infrastructural and site development works above and below ground including changes in level boundary treatments and associated site servicing (foul and surface water drainage and water supply) including services connections from the site to existing connections in MacCurtain Street and Brian Boru Street.