First Cork docklands affordable homes set for 2026 as State ramps up housing plans

New cost-rental and affordable homes in Cork’s Docklands signal long-awaited progress in Ireland’s largest urban regeneration zone

The Marina Depot site in the south docks where the LDA is working with Glenveagh Properties to deliver 337 new homes, including 260 cost rentals and 77 social apartments on the former home of the Live at the Marquee concert series. Picture: Larry Cummins

After decades of talk, strategies and vision documents, the first of hundreds of new affordable homes in Ireland’s largest urban regeneration site will be ready by the end of next year.

The completion date for the first Cork docklands apartments emerged on Friday as Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Housing Minister James Browne visited two dockland sites where 600 homes are being built with support from the Land Development Agency (LDA).

Mr Martin also confirmed that agreement has just been reached for the transfer of a Bórd na Móna-owned site on Monahan Road in the south docks to the LDA.

The 2ha/5a landbank, known locally as Suttons’ Coals and which is designated as ‘new residential neighbourhoods’ in the city development plan, is expected to yield up to 300 homes at an estimated cost of up to €56.65m.

LDA chief executive, John Coleman, said they would “waste no time lodging the planning application”.

The LDA also has interest in a nearby 7.6ha site on Centre Park Road owned by the ESB with the capacity to yield between 630 and 930 homes. However as it was a former power plant, de-contamination issues must first be addressed.

The city’s wider docklands region has capacity for up to 10,000 new homes but thousands of units have been stalled over infrastructural deficits, including a poor road network in the lower harbour, which have prevented the relocation downstream of certain dockland site owners and occupiers.

However, Mr Martin said a potential solution has been identified to that issue as he hailed construction progress on 639 new homes at Horgan’s Quay and at Marina Depot, the former Ford distribution depot on Centre Park Road which used to host the Live at the Marquee concert series.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, pictured visiting Marina Depot, Cork, to see progress on more than 600 new affordable homes being delivered in the Cork Docklands, by the LDA, in partnership with Cork City Council, and Glenveagh Properties. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan / OSM PHOTO

Both are advancing under the LDA’s Project Tosaigh scheme in which the agency partners with private homebuilders, providing the financial stimulus required to start construction and delivery the homes.

The State, through the LDA, will own and operate the new homes as affordable housing targeted at middle income households.

The Taoiseach and housing minister first visited Horgan’s Quay on the north docks to view the HQ Development where the LDA is working to deliver 302 new cost rental apartments.

The scheme was previously stalled due to viability constraints but was kickstarted by Project Tosaigh.

It forms part of a wider €160m mixed-use development and is expected to deliver its first homes by the second half of 2026.

Conceptual views of the new public realm on Horgan's Quay in Cork's docklands which could be built under the new framework strategy which was published on Wednesday, April 30, for public consultation.

They then visited the Marina Depot site in the south docks where the LDA is working with Glenveagh Properties to deliver 337 new homes, including 260 cost rental and 77 social apartments on the former home of the Live at the Marquee concert series.

These homes have kick-started a wider Glenveagh development there which will deliver 1,178 apartments on the site, with piling complete, ground floor slabs poured, and structural work underway.

These homes are scheduled for completion during 2027.

Mr Martin described Cork docklands as one of the most exciting urban regeneration projects in the country with the sites he visited on Friday set to deliver homes people can afford in the heart of the city.

“It is clear evidence of what can be achieved when the State partners with and supports the private sector to meet our housing challenges head-on,” he said.

Mr Browne said the developments demonstrate the government’s commitment to using every lever at its disposal to deliver affordable homes.

Mr Coleman said the two schemes are perfect examples of how it can partner with the private sector to accelerate housing delivery.

John Coleman, CEO, LDA; Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, TD; Cllr Dan Boyle, Lord Mayor of Cork; Valerie O'Sullivan, Chief Executive, Cork City Council, and Stephen Garvey, CEO, Glenveagh, pictured visiting Marina Depot, Cork, to see progress on more than 600 new affordable homes being delivered in the Cork Docklands, by the LDA, in partnership with Cork City Council, and Glenveagh Properties. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan / OSM PHOTO

Glenveagh’s chief executive, Stephen Garvey, said their Marina Depot apartment scheme is already attracting phenomenal interest, especially given its location next to the river Lee and Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The LDA is currently actively building more than 900 homes in Cork city, with work underway on Horgan’s Quay, Marina Depot and the former St Kevin’s Hospital, and it is planning another 500, including 350 at the ESB site in Wilton, for which a planning application has just been lodged, and 140 at Anglesea Terrace, in conjunction with Cork City Council.

Longer-term plans include up to 5,000 new homes in Tivoli docks. IDA-owned lands in Kilbarry are also on the LDA’s radar and could potentially deliver up to 2,000 homes.

Earlier, the Taoiseach turned the sod on 95 mixed tenure housing scheme at Glenbride, Kilnap, on the Old Mallow Road.

Former residents Maureen Lehane, Jerry, Noreen and Seamus O'Donoghue pictured at Millfield Cottages, marking the official opening of Respond estate in Blackpool, Cork this morning. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan

The scheme is being built by Murnane & O’Shea in partnership with Cork City Council and will deliver 86 affordable homes, which will be for sale at around 20% below open market value, and nine social housing units.

Mr Martin also visited a new social housing scheme at historic Millfield Cottages, Blackpool where 18 new social housing two-bedroom terraced homes have been developed in a scheme which had been derelict for over a decade.

The cottages were originally built to house workers from the nearby Sunbeam Wolsey Textile plant until its closure in 1995.

Respond Housing will manage the scheme for Cork City Council.