Untitled - Cork City Council

Cork Strategic Retail Study
2.33 Since 2002, the Councils have taken these recommendations forward. In the City, the
St. Patrick’s St and Guys sites are under construction. Several other central schemes
are either under construction or have planning permission. The City Council have
zoned land for retail at the Docklands, which will be delivered in line with residential
and employment development there.
2.34 Over 12,000sqm net of comparison floorspace has been developed at Mahon Point,
along with over 12,000sqm net of retail warehousing. There is planning permission for
further development. In Douglas there is planning permission for an additional
3,500sqm net of comparison floorspace. A retail park has been developed at
Blackpool and there is planning permission for further floorspace. The Wilton shopping
centre has been extended and a new Tesco store has been built.
2.35 New retail development has taken place in Ballincollig, Carrigaline, Cobh and Midleton
metropolitan towns, and the County Council have planned a northern expansion to
Blarney that will include new retail space.
2.36 In the ring towns, over 20,000sqm net of new comparison, over 8,000sqm net of new
convenience and over 6,000sqm net of new retail warehousing floorspace has been
developed. Much of this has been in Mallow. Further developments have planning
permission.
2.37 In rural North Cork, new retail developments have taken place in both Charleville and
Mitchelstown. In West Cork, Clonalkilty has seen an extension to Supervalue and an
out-of-centre Dunnes store has been developed. An out-of-centre discount store has
been developed at Skibberean.
Cork County Development Plan 2003
Settlement network
2.38 The Plan aims to develop a strategic network of settlements, stating that “A strong
network important to sustain healthy population levels and enhance quality of life…”
(p33). The centres are grouped by type and the Plan sets out the role and function of
each. The Plan aims to shift development locations to those that can be made easily
accessible by public transport (especially rail).
Retail policies
2.39 The Plan acknowledges Cork City centre as the primary retail centre in the County and
the focus for comparison retail development. It recognises the need for Cork City
centre to expand and to improve the quality of the retail experience offered to meet its
planned role as a retail centre of international importance.
2.40 An objective of the Plan is to carefully control the expansion of the suburban district
centres (Blackpool, Douglas, Wilton and Mahon Point) so that the planned
development of Cork City centre and the metropolitan towns can be achieved.
2.41 The Plan proposes additional comparison floorspace for the suburban district centres,
allowing for limited expansion. It also allows for the development of some lower grade
comparison floorspace in the neighbourhood centres. The Plan states that once the
development of the Mahon Point centre is complete, there will be little potential for
large-scale foodstore provision in the suburbs of Cork.
2.42 The metropolitan towns of Ballincollig, Carrigaline and Midleton are designated as
district centres in the retail hierarchy.
2.43 The Plan states that Ballincollig to the west and Midleton to the east of Cork are the
centres into which most additional floorspace should be directed. Blarney and Cobh
can accommodate additional floorspace serving the tourism market. Carrigaline is also
a strong retail centre, which has capacity to accommodate some expansion.
Roger Tym & Partners with Simon Clear & Associates
March 2008 8