Planning graduates praised for area regeneration plan

Two UCC planning graduates have been hailed for transforming what began as a research project into a “grassroots-led” regeneration plan for MacCurtain St in Cork City.

The work has also led to Clara O’Neill, 28, from Midleton, Co Cork, and Roisín Butler, 26, from Tralee, Co Kerry, who graduated from the master’s in planning course last year, establishing their own planning consultancy.

After graduation, they took up JobBridge positions conducting research for the UCC Centre for Planning, Education and Research. They also began working in a private capacity on days off with MacCurtain St traders.

When the scheme ended, they set up Butler O’Neill Total Planning Solutions, with the traders as their first clients.

They spent almost a year working with traders to draft the area action plan unveiled yesterday. The plan will feed in to the city development plan to guide future development in the MacCurtain St area.

“We just translated the traders’ vision and plan for their area to make it as implementable as possible,” said Ms O’Neill.

Brendan O’Sullivan, director of the centre, said their approach to the project provides an excellent example of how planners can work with communities to effect real change.

“A lot of communities and business people instinctively know what’s good for their place.

“But where they often get flummoxed, is how do they articulate that and become persuaders in their own interests.

“Planners have that kind of skill and can come up with good ideas.

“In this case, Clara and Roisín applied what they learned on the course to help communities.”

Lecturer Will Brady said the centre is anxious to develop this kind of approach so that the research it conducts can have a meaning in the wider community.

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