Volume 1 Written Statement

Chapter 2: Core Strategy
2.14 Given the uncertain economic climate, the resultant dramatic slowdown in house construction, the need
for investment in infrastructure, and the need for planning policies to target development towards the
city, these targets are not fully achievable in the timeframes set, even with a return to normal levels of
house construction over the period of the plan. However the objective of planning for a significant
increase in the city’s population and targeting regional growth at sustainable locations, particularly
brownfield land in accessible locations, such as Docklands, remains valid and is central to CASP and
SWRPG objectives for sustainable development of the region. Therefore this Plan will indicate how the
Regional Planning Guidelines population targets can be accommodated within the city.
2
2.15 As mentioned in paragraph 2.3, a new National Spatial Strategy should be complete in 2015. This is
likely to produce revised population targets for the regions which will be incorporated into the planned
review of the Regional Planning Guidelines in 2016. This may require a review of the Development Plan
to take account of any revisions to population targets.
Housing Land and Supply
2.16 All land within Cork City is zoned for some purpose in this Plan. There is very little developable
‘greenfield’ land and most of the land identified as being suitable for development is ‘brownfield’ land,
which is either vacant or underutilised with potential for intensification. The standard approach for Core
Strategies cannot therefore be readily applied and a modified approach has been utilised. The Annual
Residential Land Availability Survey for Cork City has been used to identify land with development
potential which is suitably zoned i.e. for primarily residential purposes or for residential and other uses.
Estimates have then been made of the capacity of this land for residential purposes, with density
assumptions varying with location.
Cork City
Table 2.2: Cork City – Housing requirement and land availability
Population
allocation
Housing
Requirement
(post 2013)
Estimated
zoned land
(ha) for
development
Yield from
residential
lands
Yield from
mixed use
lands
2022
Total units
By 2022 150,000 20,032 243 148 95 15,455
2.17 Table 2.2 above indicates land available in Cork City and estimates that there is capacity for an estimated
15,455 units on specific identified suitably zoned sites in Cork City. These locations are outlined in
more detail in Table 2.3 below, which shows the capacity of the key development areas for which there
are currently local area plans, as well as the city centre and the rest of the city. The table also shows
the estimated yield from additional development areas, which have yet to have a Local Area Plan
prepared and estimated yield from zoned ‘windfall’ sites which it is anticipated will arise in the city
centre and suburbs.
Draft Cork City Development Plan 2015-2021
17