120,000 jobs needed for Cork region to hit ‘critical mass’

The county development plan is allowing for up to 50,000 homes to be built up to 2034, with a minimum growth set at 38,370. File picture: Dan Linehan

The metropolitan region of Co Cork will have to reach a population of 500,000 by 2050 to achieve “critical mass”, and a further 120,000 jobs will have to be created to make this a reality.

However, there have been warnings that projected growth across the county won’t be achieved unless Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Uisce Éireann, ESB, and Department of Education provide the infrastructure required to enable Cork County Council to achieve the goals.

Projected growth patterns have been released in the newly-adopted county development plan, which also outlines housing density planned for four different parts of the county up to 2034.

At present the highest number of jobs, at slightly less than 66% of the entire county, are concentrated to the east and north of the city — mainly in Carrigtwohill, Midleton, and Little Island. That is where the bulk of new housing growth will be concentrated.

The metropolitan zone covers an area from Midleton in the east, to Kilumney/Ovens in the west and south of Fermoy in the north, to Carrigaline and Passage West in the south.

Housing density in this area will be a maximum of 50 units per hectare. The largest concentration of new builds will be in its eastern region along the commuter rail corridor. Developers are already planning to construct thousands of new homes along the railway line at Glounthaune, Carrigtwohill, and Midleton.

The county development plan splits into three other areas: Greater Cork Ring, North Cork, and West Cork.

The Greater Cork ring is outside the metropolitan area and encompasses areas such as Fermoy, Macroom, Bandon, and Youghal.

Projected housing density for these areas are designated at 40 units per hectare.

It is the same for Mallow, which is designated as a ‘key town’, because of its railway connectivity. The other designated regions of predominantly rural North and West Cork have housing density at a maximum of 35 units per hectare.

The county development plan is allowing for up to 50,000 homes to be built up to 2034, with a minimum growth set at 38,370.

It also identifies “long term and strategic development” at two specific sites.

One is at Monard, near Blarney. Around 41 hectares earmarked there could accommodate 1,433 housing units. The other site at Kilumney/Ovens is 46 hectares and capable of taking 1,500 new units.

Apart from buildings by private developers, the council has committed to constructing 3,837 social, affordable, cost-rental houses each year up to 2034.

However, some councillors have warned the plans could be stymied if certain agencies do not cooperate.

Fianna Fail councillor Gillian Coughlan, who chairs Cork Education and Training Board, has demanded the Department of Education and Youth carry out a detailed audit of projected needs across the county. She claimed the department is underestimating the current and future needs, and must urgently address this.

Senior local authority officials said they will continue to engage with national agencies to ensure appropriate infrastructure is put in place.