Significant variations have been made from the architects winning design, in an effort to cut costs. Walk through the park with the below approved plan in hand and compare it to what has been delivered here. A lot of the key features have been either cut out entirely or heavily altered.

Bishop Lucy Park has been altered for the worst in a €7 million ‘upgrade’ that has turned it from a park into a gravel path. Very real environmental concerns here. Less greenery all round, poor drainage, removal of trees, very little grass for people to sit on or bugs to populate.

To go from what we had to this is an act of total environmental destruction. It’s not a park anymore. It’s a gravel path.

I would highly entice anyone with so much as a passing interest in the city to pick up Tom Spalding’s ‘Designed for Life: Architecture and design in Cork city, 1900-90.’ The book is eminently surprising and superbly well written. Even those with a good grasp of their city will come away awed.

There is something rather continental about a riverside promenade not dominated by cars or car parking. This will also open up rather attractive views towards the South Quays. The bit of office space is also much needed and given it’s only the one block it will fill quite easily.

Long talked about and a long time coming this project will be a game changer for the city. I like that they have concentrated almost solely on the residential/tourist element here instead of going for retail space. This development will thus only enhance the offering in the city centre.

Approval given by Waterford City & County Council for the first phase of the North Quays development. The development consists of a total of 9 buildings:

- 6 blocks of apartments (350 total with retail units at the ground floor)
- A 160 bed hotel
- A 163 room aparthotel
- An office block

Looks like they’re opening up the finished elements of the Tuckey Street pedestrianisation. The remaining covered section down by the Oval looks very close to opening as well with the hoarding going up on the Bishop Lucy entrance.

From another angle today