Public right of way at a Cork quay extinguished to allow for €350m docklands regeneration

City councillors have agreed to extinguish the right of way along the 150-metre corridor at Kennedy Quay. Picture: Dan Linehan

A public right of way over a section of Cork’s Kennedy Quay, where the landmark R&H Hall silos are being demolished, has been extinguished to facilitate a €350m docklands regeneration project.

City councillors have agreed to extinguish the right of way along the 150-metre corridor after they were told that issues raised in the single submission made during the public consultation on the proposal were deemed to be outside the scope of the proposed extinguishment.

Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Martin told the city council's March meeting last Monday that after years of trying to secure development and urban regeneration in the city's docklands, and the extinguishment of the public right of way would facilitate it.

“It's great to see this work underway — it's time to get on with it now,” he said.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

In a report, councillors were told that further to a request from O’Callaghan Properties to facilitate the planning permission granted to them to demolish the silos and develop a large mixed-use development, including a new rehabilitation hospital, apartments, offices and shops, a proposal to extinguish a section of the public right of way on Kennedy Quay from Victoria Road to Furlong Street was drafted.

The area of affected land runs immediately adjacent to the site where demolition crews are dismantling the R&H silos. The strip is just 158 metres long and is almost 13 metres wide.

Demolition work being carried out at the R&H Hall. Picture: Larry Cummins

The notice of the intention to extinguish this public right of way was published on November 7, with the relevant maps and documents made available for public inspection for a month. Public notices were also erected in the area.

Councillors were told that just one submission was made.

It argued that Albert Quay should be opened to two-way traffic, with all construction traffic, and all heavy-duty vehicles from Southern Milling, Gouldings, Port of Cork and others, obliged to travel along Kennedy Quay westwards onto Albert Quay where there is no housing.

“The extinguishment of a public right of way over a section of Kennedy Quay should not be allowed until traffic issues in the densely populated Albert Road and Hibernian Buildings areas are addressed by the developers and the council,” it said.

“This area has been ignored by Cork City Council for decades.” 

The submission highlighted a broken footpath on Albert Road near the junction with Albert Street, while the pedestrian crossing on Albert Road, at the roundabout end, has a high step making it unsuitable for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues.

“Traffic calming measures are urgently needed, especially on the Hibernian Buildings, Monerea Terrace road, while a pedestrian crossing from Victoria Road to Albert Road west to east is also urgently required,” it read.

“The various developments in the Cork docklands area are vitally necessary, but it is also vital that Cork City Council and the developers conduct the developments in such a way that is fair to everyone living in nearby densely populated areas.” 

But councillors were told that the requests were deemed to be outside the scope of the proposed right of way extinguishment.