The company planning to develop the new shopping centre at Mahon Point, beside the new Lee Tunnel, in Cork, has been inundated with inquiries from tenants. Developer Owen O'Callaghan said although the centre is at present being actively marketed, they had received enough confirmed interest to almost fill the centre. A planning application for the 150,000 net sq ft of retail space was lodged last week with the planning authorities. The two-level centre will have two clothing anchor stores and up to 50 shops units. There will also be a 30,000 sq ft supermarket and a 10-screen multiplex cinema, which will link up with the food court.

The Mahon centre, which is due to open in 2001, will also have 70,000 sq ft of retail warehousing and on-site car-parking for 2,000 cars. Rents have yet to be fixed but with Zone A rents on Patrick Street in Cork around £120 per sq ft, it seems likely the developer will pitch for close to the same level. David Potter of Hamilton Osborne King said that while the developers were not yet in a position to commit shops to retailers, they were formulating a tenant mix plan and the first name to be pencilled in was that of a leading Irish fashion chain.