A unique city location, Convent Gardens is just a five-minute walk from the city centre via the recently opened pedestrian bridge at the Mardyke

The proposal for the eight-acre site provides for the development of a total of 274 units comprising town houses, duplexes and one, two and three bedroom apartments.

The original convent buildings were destroyed by fire some years ago and it is estimated that without the extensive restoration work, which Frinailla is proposing, they would all but disappear within the next five years.

The plan will ensure the conservation and where necessary, restoration of the existing buildings, graveyards and boundary walls.

In addition to the extensive restoration programme, it is proposed to insert a number of contemporary structures, all of which will have a Southerly aspect, amongst the retained buildings to form new courtyards, which will transform the character and re-establish the setting and significance of the former Good Shepherd Convent buildings.

Working with the existing sloped ground levels, the Frinailla plan will place buildings in the lower areas with their heights set to maintain views into the site and out across Cork City from the impressive red brick “Venetian Gothic” facades of the restored buildings

Another interesting feature of the plan is that the parking layout has been designed to provide 1.25 car parking spaces per house/apartment, with almost all of the car-parking placed underground in order to create a high quality pedestrian landscape at ground level. Bicycle storage areas will also be provided within basement carpark.

A spokesman for Frinailla Developments said."We believe that Convent Gardens is the most desirable address in the city and we have worked hard with our design team to create the best possible living environment. The previous plan for this site would have seen it house some 3,000 students and although planning permission has been granted for a substantial element of this plan, we beiieve that, what is now proposed is far more appropriate. Our proposal will see 60% of the site remain as open space". Convent Gardens will feature larger than average living spaces finished to an exceptionally high level and as such is expected to be more attractive to owner occupiers.

Design team is Reddy O’Riorand Staehli Architects Architects, Arup Engineers, McCutcheon Mulcahy Planning advisers and Brady Shipman Martin Landscapers.