Survey of firms to help secure foreign investment in docklands

A MASSIVE survey of international businesses has begun to help secure foreign investment to drive Cork’s multi-billion euro docklands plan forward.

Consultants from DTZ plan to ask over 150 businesses and potential investors for impressions of the city as part of an economic study on the docklands plan.

They briefed city councillors on the progress of the study on Monday night.

They said the survey will include businesses based in Cork, those based in Ireland but not in Cork, as well as international businesses yet to base in Ireland.

Talks have also begun with third-level institutions and with the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), they said.

The consultants will facilitate a workshop with representatives of the commercial sector on March 14 to establish what business supports, services and infrastructure should be in place to secure investment.

They are also looking at the economic impact of dockland regeneration projects in Dublin, London, Bristol and Hamburg.

They said the results of the entire study will give city officials a clear vision of what needs to be done to attract the right type of industry to Cork’s docklands.

The results will feed into the city’s Docklands Development Strategy, which envisages the creation of a vast new urban quarter in an area that extends from the city centre through to the Atlantic Pond, taking in considerable land north and south of the river channel.

That plan sets out a broad vision of extensive, non-residential uses including offices, a university, retail, cultural and leisure facilities extending through the north and south docks area.

It sees the construction of up to 6,000 homes, including high-density apartments, student accommodation and family units concentrated on Horgan’s Quay and along Monahan Road.

New parks, public spaces and pedestrian routes, a marina, moorings and recreation areas will be scattered throughout the region.

A public transport system, including a new rail station concourse and bus station, is also planned.

The area will provide a focus for the growth of the city, and unrivalled opportunities for investment in the Cork region.

While it could be up to 15 years before any development takes place, the economic study underway will play a crucial role in securing industry in the docklands, the consultants said.

The results of the study are due in late April.