Industry & Business

The new owners of Blarney Business Park, JCD Group, have committed to a €10 million investment in the strategically important site, which will see the next two phases delivered in early 2020 and a commitment to invest further and develop all the land at the campus in the next two years. On top of the initial investment of €10 million by JCD Group since 2018, a further €10 million will be spent on phases three and four of the Park. This investment will help Blarney Business Park to realise its true potential as a major economic driver for Cork city.

The site has already attracted significant tenants, including both GLS and ILC Dover. Both businesses relocated to Blarney having previously operated out of Little Island.

Since JCD acquired the Blarney Business Park in 2018, they have completed a 51,000 sq ft Grade A high bay warehouse/light industrial warehouse in 2018, which was fully let before completion. Another 60,000 sq ft site has been completed and is now also fully let, while two more buildings which are being built on spec measuring 12,000 sq ft and 60,000 sq ft, are under construction. Negotiations on the occupation of both are currently at an advanced stage.

John Cleary of JCD Group says; “Blarney Business Park is unique in Cork in terms of its location and potential. The site is one of the few locations in Cork city that is suited to the growing demand for buildings of scale for manufacturing, logistics, storage and commercial use. Given its campus type setting and the demand for best in class sustainable premises as well as its access to existing infrastructure, Blarney has proved itself to be an excellent location to support business growth.”

Blarney Business Park is easily accessed via the N20 Cork to Limerick road, which is due to be upgraded to motorway standard by 2028. The site is also strategically sited close to the proposed site of a new Blarney railway station and next to the site for a proposed park and ride facility.

Blarney Business Park provides businesses with the opportunity to locate in a modern high grade business environment with the flexibility to design and create bespoke building solutions. The management company is now controlled by JCD and the site is maintained to the highest standards with recent investments in upgrading the park lighting to efficient LED lighting, additional CCTV and increased security presence, and all of which are complimented by extensive landscaping and walking trails.

One of the existing tenants at Blarney Business Park is Healthcare21, a company providing specialist healthcare products and services to the medical sector. Healthcare21 managing director Owen Curtin said: “The location of Blarney Business Park is ideal as it helps us service not just Munster, but also our international business in the UK, Germany and Austria. Speed and ease of access is key to ensuring efficient distribution. Blarney is perfectly suited to access the road network, while avoiding traffic that impacts other sites of similar scale. Blarney Business Park is now core to our business not just as an international fulfilment centre but as home to the administration team for our nationwide managed service solution.”

Construction of the next phases has begun for delivery in March and May 2020. JCD Group have appointed Summerhill Construction Ltd as the main construction contractor for these buildings. 

John Cleary added: “The new developments at Blarney Business Park will help Cork to continue to compete for foreign direct investment and help to build on the existing significant occupier base and become a key employment hub for the now enlarged city, particularly given the proposed M20 motorway, Stoneview railway station and park and ride.”