A £6 million 378-space car-park adjoining City Hall, in Cork, is expected to ease city centre traffic around Patrick Street, Grand Parade and the South Mall when it opens in July.

Part of a plan to have a one-stop-shop for those doing business with the corporation, the car-park will create a "plaza effect", as all of the corporation's main offices will be accessible from it. Parking will cost £1 an hour.

The car-park is being developed by Howard Holdings on a public/private enterprise basis with Cork Corporation. City architect, Neil Hegarty, designed the project and the contractors are Rohcon. This is the fourth car-park developed in Cork recently by Howard Holdings. The company, which has headquarters in Dublin and is quoted on the London Stock Exchange, has a corporate policy of entering into joint ventures with public bodies and has been involved in developing a business park in Balbriggan and a 600-space car-park in Beaumont Hospital.