volume-4-south-cork-updated-29-04-2021web

at national, regional and local levels, particularly in relation to achieving compact growth and building high quality
communities around strategic public transport infrastructure. The outcome of this progress is reflected in the Water-
Rock specific policy contained within this Plan.
3.3.116 The Plan also reflects the key findings of a number of studies, assessments and design frameworks undertaken in
relation to the Water-Rock UEA and Cork county generally, which have both fed into and been prepared as part of the
design process for the UEA. These include the following:
o The Water-Rock Framework Masterplan 2015.
o The Water-Rock Urban Design Framework 2020.
o
The Water-Rock Strategic Transport Assessment 2018 (updating in parts previous Transport Studies/Assessments
2010 and 2014).
o Ecological Appraisal for Water-Rock 2015.
o
Cork Metropolitan Area Transportation Strategy 2040 (CMATS).
o Cork Cycle Network Plan 2017.
o
Part 8 Reports associated with UEA proposed infrastructure (Ecology, Flood Risk Assessment).
3.3.117 In accordance with the Midleton Zoning Map, the Water-Rock UEA is defined as comprising the following zonings: MD-R-
06, MD-R-07, MD-R-08, MD-R-10, MD-R-11, MD-R-12, MD-R-20, MD-R-22, MD-R-09, MD-C-01, MD-R-13, MD-R-14,
MD-R-16, MD-C-02, MD-C-03, MD-GR-08, MD-GR-10, MD-R-15, MD-R-17, MD-R-18, MD-R-19, MD-R-21, MD-GR-11
and MD-HT-02.
Water-Rock Implementation
3.3.118 A multidisciplinary team, the Housing Infrastructure Implementation Team (HIIT), was established in 2016 to work with
all key stakeholders in activating the development of Cork County Council’s Urban Expansions Areas, including Water-
Rock, which is now at an advanced stage of implementation.
3.3.119 Challenged with a large number of landlocked residential and community development sites in multiple land ownership,
the opportunity to initiate activation presented with funding received under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation
Fund (LIHAF) in 2017 as part of the Rebuilding Ireland Programme for the upfront delivery of strategic infrastructure
to facilitate the delivery of housing. An integrated and co-ordinated approach to infrastructure delivery has since
been progressively developed with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and other key State
agencies, e.g. Irish Water IW), Irish Rail (IR), Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the Office of Public Works (OPW),
which, in addition to leveraging significant additional funding to benefit the UEA, will also benefit the wider settlement of
Midleton.
3.3.120 Specifically, the County Council is proposing to deliver the key strategic infrastructure required for the activation of the
UEA on a phased basis in tandem with housing delivery, including the provision of an internal services corridor link road,
the upgrade of the Water-Rock road, the implementation of a surface water drainage system, the delivery of three parks
(1 Linear Park and 2 pocket parks) and a number of off site junction/road improvements. The Council are working closely
with Irish Water, Irish Rail, the ESB, Gas Networks Ireland and the Department of Education who are responsible for the
delivery of the drinking and wastewater, rail infrastructure, utilities and education infrastructure respectively.
3.3.121 In terms of key project milestones, Part 8 planning for the ‘Water-Rock UEA Infrastructure Works’ was approved in March
2019, Development Agreements were signed with key landowners in December 2020, the Restricted Tender Stage 1
Suitability Assessment for Contractors was finalised in January 2021 with the Tender Stage 2 assessment programmed
for Q2 2021 and the formal consultation process for a new bespoke Water-Rock Section 48 Development Contribution
Scheme is to commence in February 2021. The commencement of construction of the LIHAF infrastructure is
programmed for Q3 of 2021 with housing delivery anticipated from Q4 2022.
3.3.122 In addition, funding has been secured under the Urban Regeneration Housing Fund (URDF) for the design of the
Owenacurra Linear Park which is due to proceed to Part 8 Planning in 2021.
3.3.123 Given the complexity of the activation challenges, including interplay between multiple landowners, infrastructure
agencies and the need to provide on and off-site infrastructure, Cork County Council has been required to commit
extensive resources over a number of years to bring the site close to activation.
Water-Rock Phasing
3.3.124 In order to promote the accelerated delivery of housing through the development of the Water-Rock site, the phasing
arrangements are flexible, depending on the delivery of the relevant supporting infrastructure.
3.3.125 The Council has identified three bundles of core, on site infrastructure, including access roads, water services, and
particular areas of open space, that they intend to deliver in order to facilitate the independent development of individual
parcels of zoned lands.
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