Cork's dramatic new skyline: Where are the major apartment developments being built? 

With the number of started apartment developments now three times that of those completed in the 12 months previously, Amy Campbell breaks down the details 

A CGI of the Creamfields development (right) and the new 25-storey Railyard Apartments tower, which will be the tallest building in Ireland when complete. 

Apartment building is seen as integral to alleviating the national housing crisis, and the eyeball test shows the Cork skyline is coming to the forefront of the growing trend.

The number of apartments under construction far outweighs the number of apartments that were actually completed in the past 12 months, according to official Central Statistics Office (CSO) data.

In Cork alone, the number of apartments started is three times that of those completed in the 12 months previously.

So far, so good, say business leaders, but much more needs to be done to continue the stimulation of private homebuilding — they warn that government incentives cannot last forever.

Last year, some 1,679 apartments were granted planning permission in Cork City. However, just 58 were granted permission in the first three months of this year, the latest data available, down significantly from the 415 granted permission in the first three months of 2025.

There were 429 apartments completed in Cork in the 12-month period to the end of June this year, with 126 in the second quarter of 2026 a significant increase from 40 the same period last year.

Nationally, 12,256 apartments were completed in Ireland during the period, with just 3.5% of these being in Cork city.

Commencements paint a more positive picture — in the same 12-month period, commencement notices were issued for 1,374 apartments in Cork City, with apartments making up 72% of the total homes that building began on.

Nationally, apartments accounted for just 39% of commencement notices from the end of June 2025 to 2026 — 14% of all apartments that commenced in Ireland were in Cork city.

Here are the 21 major apartment developments planned for Cork:

In Cork, the apartment building picture now includes significant numbers by the Land Development Agency (LDA). The State body is involved in hundreds of apartments being constructed and has hundreds more in the pipeline.

The agency delivers housing directly on land it owns, but also through partnerships with homebuilders or Cork City Council.

Projects the LDA are involved in include a partnership with Glenveagh at Marina Depot, where 337 apartments are under construction, with an estimated completion date of mid-2027.

Work is also advancing to completion at Horgan’s Quay in partnership with BAM and Clarendon on 302 apartments, and an LDA spokesperson said: “Further announcements will be made soon in relation to tenure and application process.” 

Other developments include 329 apartments and 16 three-bed townhouses in Wilton in Cork on former ESB land, where commencement is targeted for the last quarter of this year.

Also in the pipeline are 147 cost rental and social apartments at Anglesea Terrace in Cork City, planning permission for which was approved by Cork City Council in February of this year.

A detailed design process is ongoing, with works targeted to begin next year, delivering the first homes in 2030.

A spokesperson for Cork Chamber said: “Cork’s population is growing rapidly, with a 40% increase projected by 2040.

“Supporting this growth and ensuring the region continues to attract talent and investment requires a coordinated approach to future planning.

“Aligning critical infrastructure delivery, across transport, water and electricity, with plans for housing development is vital.” The spokesperson added that the number of ongoing and planned developments across the city and wider metropolitan area at present is an encouraging sign.

“However it is also worth noting that almost all of these current developments are benefitting from various support schemes,” they said, referring to social and affordable housing initiatives among other incentives.

“While these interventions are currently needed, they cannot go on forever and in our engagement with government, we continue to call for the introduction of measures that will stimulate the private housing market.” 

The spokesperson added that the upcoming budget “presents a valuable opportunity to do this by addressing concerns around viability, particularly when it comes to apartment delivery and brownfield developments”.