Cork council focused on docklands regeneration despite planning blow for 2,000 apartments
Docklands strategy was dealt a major blow late last year when the planning appeals board refused planning to fertiliser firm Goulding for a fertiliser facility at Marino Point near Cobh amid concerns over the carrying capacity of the R624 Cobh to Cork road. Picture: Larry Cummins
Cork City Council says it remains focused on delivering its ambitious docklands regeneration despite a Bórd Pleanála decision casting doubt on the vision and halting the delivery of almost 2,000 apartments.
The success of the docklands, one of Ireland’s largest brownfield regeneration sites, hinges to a large extent on the relocation of several land uses to free up sites for development.
But the entire docklands strategy was dealt a major blow late last year when the planning appeals board refused planning to fertiliser firm Goulding for a fertiliser facility at Marino Point near Cobh amid concerns over the carrying capacity of the R624 Cobh to Cork road.
The decision prevents Goulding from relocating from its south docklands site and immediately delayed O’Callaghan Property plans for 1,325 apartments on the site.
It is also preventing the development of a further 500 apartments earmarked for the remaining portion of the site.
Cork Chamber said given the strategic importance of docklands to the wider Cork region, and to the country, the €100m upgrade of the Cobh to Cork road must be part of the programme for government.
The Construction Industry Federation said key infrastructure like this must be delivered if Cork is to meet its population and growth targets as set out in various local and national planning strategies.
Labour councillor Peter Horgan told this month’s meeting of Cork City Council he was baffled by the board’s decision.
“We should be joining forces with our counterparts in the county and saying that an issue in the county is now impacting housing in the city,” he said.
Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy said politicians did not express enough disappointment with the planning decision, while deputy mayor Honore Kamegni said the board’s decision threatens the future of “a living city”.
The city’s head of planning, Niall Ó Donnabháin, said while the planning decision “is frustrating”, the city council is working with the county council, the Port of Cork as the primary stakeholder in the docklands, and with developers on the wider docklands regeneration.
“We need to work through this and show confidence and provide a solution. It requires a tripartite approach because the solution to Cork City Council’s issue is held in the county. There is a collective opportunity and appetite to deal with it,” he said.
Meanwhile, city officials confirmed a preferred route for a strategic new road on Cork’s northside is set to be unveiled next month, with work on another major northside road upgrade set to begin within weeks.
Councillors were told they will be briefed first on the emerging plans for the route of the proposed 14km Cork Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Route before it will be published for non-statutory public consultation.
The road will run from a point on the N22 west of the city, around the northside to connect again to the N8 near Tivoli, following a route inside the larger proposed northern ring road.
The distributor road, as suggested in the CMATS transport plan, will prioritise sustainable transport movement in the hope it will reduce the reliance on key routes through the city centre.
It has been described as a critical enabler for the planned growth of the city, and the wider Cork Metropolitan Area.
A dedicated design team has been working on the project since 2021, with various routes considered, and an analysis of the best performing options, leading to the identification of the preferred route corridor, which is now being finalised for publication.
Following the consultation and feedback, and confirmation of the preferred route, the council will procure a design team, likely later this year, to prepare the preliminary designs which will ultimately lead to a planning application for the scheme.
Separately, the long-awaited Ballyvolane Strategic Transport Corridor Scheme, a major upgrade along 1km of the Ballyhooly Road, 0.3km of the North Ring Road, as well as smaller sections of the Ballyvolane, Banduff and Rathcooney Roads should get under way within months, subject to NTA funding, which is expected soon.
The lands required were the subject of a CPO issued in 2022 and approved in 2024.
Tenders are being finalised, arrangements for the transfer of the required lands are being closed out, and subject to NTA funding, a construction contract will be awarded and works should start in the coming months, taking about 18-months to complete.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
