Council invites public to have their say on regeneration of Cork's historic South Park area

Cork City Council's proposals aim to restore area's 'village within a city' character

CGI image of the proposed revamp of Douglas Street, Mary Street and White Street in Cork.

An ambitious grassroots-led design for the regeneration of Cork’s historic South Parish area aims to restore its distinct ‘village within the city’ character.

Cork City Council unveiled the Part 8 planning proposals for public consultation on Thursday, and has invited public submissions on the designs for what is one of the oldest inhabited parts of the city area, where settlements date back to the 10th century, and where the Red Abbey, the city’s oldest surviving medieval structure, was built in the late 13th or early 14th century.

The scheme includes the introduction of pedestrian zones, new one-way traffic systems, the rationalisation of parking, improved and new public spaces, high-quality landscaping, and the creation of a new neighbourhood pocket park at the eastern end of Douglas Street, which is currently dominated by parking.

Scheme includes improved and new public spaces, high-quality landscaping, and the creation of a new neighbourhood pocket park.

It also includes a significant upgrade of Red Abbey Square, including traffic calming along Red Abbey Street, the removal of railings around Red Abbey Tower and the introduction of enhanced landscaping and lighting measures. Other key proposals include:

• The creation of a shared active travel facility on Douglas Street between the junctions with Mary Street and Dunbar Street, with emergency vehicle access only;
• The conversion of Douglas Street into a one-way east-bound street between the junctions of Dunbar Street and Rutland Street;
• The development of a small park on the eastern end of Douglas Street and removing vehicle access to and from Douglas Street from the junction with Langford Row;
• Converting Douglas Street into a shared surface two-way cul-de-sac street, between the junction with Rutland Street and the new city park.

The plans also includes the provision of contraflow cycle facilities to allow two-way cycle access along one-way streets for portions of Cove Street, Mary Street, Red Abbey Street, Dunbar Street, and Douglas Street; the introduction of new crossing points at street junctions throughout the scheme; new landscaping to include trees, planter beds and sustainable urban drainage systems; new seating areas, bike parking, and a Transport for Ireland shared bike scheme on Abbey Street, new street lights and the undergrounding of all cables.

Work on the regeneration proposal started almost two years ago, when it was accepted the area would undergo a revamp.

The city council held several consultations with people who live, work and visit the area, and used their feedback to develop the plans.

It culminated in two public consultation open days at Nano Nagle Place last September, before the Mary Street, Douglas Street, and White Street public realm enhancement scheme was finalised, and published for public consultation on Thursday.

The council has described the scheme as a community-led design which aims to revitalise one of the city’s most historic and culturally vibrant quarters.

The council has described it as a community-led design which aims to revitalise one of the city’s most historic and culturally vibrant quarters by restoring its distinctive "village within the city" character.

The council said the South Parish area was currently characterised by its narrow streets, high traffic volumes, dominated by through traffic, with a constrained pedestrian environment and limited public spaces — conditions it says have long posed challenges for residents, businesses, and visitors — but that the Part 8 proposals now aim to address these issues.

The council said this plan formed part of a broader strategy to promote sustainable urban living, focusing on high-quality public spaces, improved accessibility, and a more inviting environment for everyone.

Other major public realm schemes under way or in planning in the city centre include the Bishop Lucey Park revamp, the regeneration of South Main Street and Crosses Green, and the Morrison’s Island, Morrison’s Quay areas, with the Emmet Place renewal scheme, and the South Docks to city centre gateway scheme both recently approved, and consultation ongoing on the North Docks and Horgan’s Quay regeneration.

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The Part 8 plans for the South Parish will go on display in Nano Nagle Place for two days during the public consultation period, on Friday June 20, and Friday July 4, from 9.30am to 7pm on both days, where further feedback is being invited. 

Details of the scheme are also available on the council’s ‘Consult platform’ until June 12.

It is intended to bring the scheme before councillors for approval later this year, with a view to starting construction in late 2026 or early 2027.