Volume 1 Written Statement

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Volume One: Written Statement
13.62 Planning permission has been granted for a number of major mixed commercial and residential
developments notably the redevelopment of the Marina Commercial Park, the former Topaz site on the
Centre Park Road and former Ford storage depot on Centre Park road. Completed office buildings on
Monahan Road which were vacant for some time are now being occupied. However development has
not yet progressed on the large permissions granted on Centre Park Road or on the North Docks. The
economic recession, the lack of funding for transport and other infrastructure, and the failure of Port
activities to relocate, have all been factors in this.
13.63 A reappraisal of the economic proposition for Docklands was completed in 2012, (Cork City Harbour,
Unlocking Cork Docklands), and it concluded that the priority should be on expanding eastwards into
Docklands from the city centre with a focus on developing a new office quarter in this first phase,
comprised of the edge of city centre sites along the quays and the North Docks around Kent
Station/Horgan’s Quay. An advantage of this approach is that existing city centre infrastructure can
cater for the new development without requiring major expenditure on new infrastructure. Other parts
of Docklands will develop as demand increases and recourses for infrastructure become available, and
barriers such as removal of the Seveso site and Port relocation occur. This redevelopment process
will take a considerable period and will extend well beyond the period of this Plan. Figure 13.2 shows
a diagram from the Cork City Harbour study indicating a themed product area approach to future
development of Docklands. This approach will inform the review and update of the Docklands Local
Area Plans to be carried out over the period of this Plan.
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Figure 13.2 Product Area Approach to future of Docklands
(Source: Cork City Harbour – Unlocking Cork Docklands, 2012)
196 Draft Cork City Development Plan 2015-2021