The Evening Echo has published an article relating to the proposed mixed-use scheme at the Square Deal site at Washington Street West in Cork City, which includes student accommodation (242 No. bedspaces), café use and co-working space.  Thornton O’Connor Town Planning are the agents for the application. A copy of the article is provide below:

http://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Developers-lodge-student-apartment-plans-for-Square-Deal-site-d7201c9a-a909-4caf-8c0e-131b1f528254-ds

The location of the site is ideally suited to student accommodation which will provide student living in the heart of the city with ease of access to educational institutions and the variety of retail and commercial facilities in Cork City. The café proposed at ground floor level in the Protected Structure to be retained will ensure that this key historic building is unlocked to the public allowing its internal fabric to be fully appreciated.   The co-working space, also at ground floor level, which includes an associated café/bar and meeting rooms will provide an exciting and innovative commercial concept in the centre of the city.  The development with the 3 No. proposed uses will collectively result in a significant increase in activity and a new vibrancy at the subject location.  The development will also have a significant positive streetscape impact by restoring the 19th-century two- and three-storey redbrick Protected Structure facing Washington Street West to its original presentation befitting of its historical and architectural importance. Importantly, the development will assist in meeting the critical demand for purpose built student accommodation in Cork City.

In a Decision which supports the important role of the Film Industry in Co. Wicklow, permission has been granted for the continued use of the backlot studio at Ardmore Studios.  The  backlot area is critical in ensuring that Ardmore Studios, which is an important national centre for film making, has the available infrastructure to continue to attract future investment and ensure its continued viability at its campus in Bray.

The positive Decision, which issued in less than 6 No. weeks is welcomed by Thornton O’Connor Town Planning who acted as the agents for the planning application in association with Cantrell and Crowley Architects.

Since 2006 Ardmore Studios has been home to three television series – ‘The Tudors’, filmed between 2006 and 2010 at a cost of over €90 million, ‘Camelot’ filmed in 2010 and from 2014 ‘Penny Dreadful’.  In 2011, Byzantium, directed by Neil Jordan, located at Ardmore.