Cork City Council chief on a new development plan for a 'new city' 

The Cork City Draft Development Plan offers a view of the city that is progressive, dynamic and radical, writes Ann Doherty

Pictured at the launch of the draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028, which was published on Monday and is going out to public consultation for eight weeks, were back, from left: Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty; director of Strategic Economic Development, Fearghal Reidy; senior planner Kevin O’Connor; and Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Colm Kelleher. They were joined by: front, from left: young rappers and hip hop enthusiasts Sophie Mc Carthy, Cara Cullen, Jamie Forde aka MC The King and Ugonna Duru. Picture: Alison Miles/OSM Photo

The backdrop to the publication on Monday of the Cork City Draft Development Plan, “Our City, Our Future”, is vastly different to anything that has gone before.

For the first time, a single statutory development plan will encompass the city’s previous footprint, unchanged for over 50 years, along with the suburb of Douglas, and the urban towns of Ballincollig, Blarney, Tower and Glanmire and the immediate hinterland areas – the “New City” of Cork.