7. Economy and Employment
Introduction
7.1
The Cork Metropolitan Area (CMA) is recognised as a key employment base and economic driver in Ireland. Over recent decades, the CMA has been successful in attracting a significant level of foreign direct investment (FDI) and indigenous enterprise, a trend that has accelerated over recent years. The CMA has a track record in attracting investment in key sectors such as bio pharma, medical devices, food, international business services and ITC. The City is also building strengths in rapidly emerging and expanding clusters in areas such as financial services, fintech, cyber security and energy.
7.2
In addition, the city serves as one of Ireland’s key services centres. Cork City offers a range of business services, hospitality, cultural, tourism and retail to support the needs of both businesses along with residents and visitors to the region.
Economic Profile
7.3
Details of the Economic Profile of Cork City are presented in the Socio-Economic Profile of the City. This is based on 2016 Census data, the most up to date data available at the time of preparation of this plan. The profile highlights that:
• There is a lower than average proportion of people working in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (1%); Building and Construction (4%);
and Public Administration 4%);
• There is a higher than average proportion of people working in Manufacturing (15%) , which is anticipated given the strength of a number of manufacturing sectors in the CMA. There is also a higher proportion (10%) of the working population employed in Transport and Communications than the State average; and
• The proportion of people working in Commerce and Trade and Professional Services is on a par with the average for the State at 23.5% and 25% respectively.
7.4
Importantly, the Socio-Economic Profile highlights the areas of relative affluence and deprivation across the City. This confirms the importance of delivering an employment ecosystem that creates suitable employment opportunities for all residents of the City.
7.5
In addition, the economic profile of Cork illustrates a dependence on high value manufacturing and services. A key objective of the City Development Plan will be to ensure that the city can continue to compete to attract both indigenous and foreign investment while creating a broad range of employment opportunities that suit the needs of all residents in a socially inclusive manner. This will mean that the City Council, along with partners in IDA, Enterprise Ireland, UCC, MTU and business representative organisations will need to continue to collaborate to enhance the skills, research and development needed to ensure that businesses in Cork can innovate and create employment opportunities. This is required to continue to position Cork as a globally competitive business location.
Policy Context
7.6
The City Development Plan is being prepared in the context of a global pandemic COVID 19. This has led to a period economic uncertainty as businesses faced operational challenges of adhering to the public health advice, which understandably changed as the nature of and remedy for the virus changed. In addition, the UK, historically, Ireland’s main trading partner, left the European Union (EU) as of 1st January 2021. While the medium to long term impacts of these events are unknown, both in terms of the global or local economies, they highlight the importance of resilience, innovation and agility among all employment sectors, whether public or private sectors. In particular, much of the commentary relates to diversification of markets and accelerated digitisation of business, both of which represent opportunities and risks to Cork’s economy. A range of policies and strategies are being or have been prepared to address these challenges. These are ultimately designed to support the continued growth of Ireland’s economy.
7.7
The National Planning Framework (NPF) was published by the Government of Ireland in 2018. This provides a framework for the long-term development of Ireland to 2040, which will be underpinned by investment of a sequence of National Development Plans (NDP). The NPF sets 10 National Strategic Outcomes, including the development of ‘a strong economy supported by enterprise, innovation and skills’ (NPF p13). The NPF highlights that this objective is to be achieved by building regional economic drivers and by supporting opportunities to diversify and strengthen the rural economy, to leverage the potential of places. Delivering this outcome will require the coordination of growth and place making with investment in world class infrastructure, including digital connectivity, and in skills and talent to support economic competitiveness and enterprise growth. Importantly, the NPF reiterates the importance of ensuring that economic growth is achieved in a sustainable manner, with particular attention to climate change. The NPF emphasises the role that cities, including Cork, play in driving regional economic growth, in particular to attract skills and deliver a critical mass to facilitate
investment in excellence. Importantly, the NPF highlights that the economic objectives for Ireland cannot be achieved without considering the delivery of housing, health, social services, community facilities along with a range of other cultural and commercial services. The NPF highlights the requirement to grow and diversity Cork’s employment base by creating the conditions to attract and retain talented innovators and entrepreneurs and to be accessible to investors.
7.8
In 2019 the Government published ‘Future Jobs Ireland, 2019 – Preparing for Tomorrow’s Economy’. This set out a strategy for Ireland’s economy under five pillars:
1. Embracing innovation and technological change;
2. Improving SME productivity;
3. Enhancing skills and developing and attracting talent;
4. Increasing participation in the labour force; and
5. Transitioning to a low carbon economy.
7.9
The published National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which forms part of Ireland’s recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic, supported by Exchequer and EU funding.
7.10
Key agencies such as IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Fáilte Ireland among others, have prepared their strategies and plans that set out their objectives and goals to achieve economic growth. Each of these strategies emphasise a commitment to balanced regional development.
7.11
The Southern Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES), which was published by the Southern Regional Assembly in 2020, carries
forward the NPF objectives for the Southern Region. In particular, the RSES contains specific development objectives for Cork City, under the Cork Metropolitan Area Plan (MASP). The RSES seeks to create a sustainable, competitive, inclusive and resilient economy by pursuing five economic principles; smart specialisation, clustering, placemaking for enterprise, knowledge diffusion and capacity building. The MASP identifies the need to develop key employment sites in Cork, including the Docklands, Cork Science and Technology Park and Mahon. Th strategic employment sites proposed in this Draft City Development Plan are designed to achieve the
objectives of the MASP.
7.12
With its genesis in the Regional Action Plan for Jobs, which was instrumental in providing cohesion in Ireland’s recovery from the recent global recession, the South West Regional Enterprise Plan focus on creating added value and innovation across all regions in Ireland. Cork City Council is a key partner in the South West Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020; which contains six strategic objectives:
1. To build capacity and resilience of the region’s enterprise base;
2. To develop the region’s enterprise hubs;
3. To leverage opportunities through business clustering;
4. To increase the capacity of the tourism sector;
5. To support the growth of the region’s marine and maritime sector; and
6. To ensure the availability of skills and talent to underpin the region’s growth potential. This particular action is being implemented by the Regional Skills Forum.
7.13
At the time of preparing the Draft City Development Plan the preparation of the next iteration of the Regional Enterprise Plan had commenced. In addition to the key objectives set out above, it is envisaged that the new South West Regional Enterprise Plan will contain particular objectives to combat climate change, with a particular emphasis on just transition, and support the region’s evolution to smart specialisation.
7.14
Whilst the City Development Plan will provide an overarching framework for the development of the city, the Cork City Local Community and Economic Plan (LECP) 2016 - 2021 clearly sets out key objectives and actions for the coordinated development of the city. The LECP presents 15 key themes for the development of Cork City. Whilst all interrelated and relevant to economic development, the themes that focus on economic development are:
• Theme 5 Social Economy: To ensure the vibrant social economy sector is supported and enhanced.
• Theme 6 Education & Learning: Support the culture of learning in Cork and enhance educational levels across the city.
• Theme 7 Social Inclusion & Equality: Reduce the marginalisation of specific communities within the city.
• Theme 10 Economic Diversity: Support the maintenance of a diverse economic base within the city.
• Theme 11 Innovation: Support innovation in the local economy.
• Theme 12 Skills and Human Capital: Develop skills within the Cork area to match the needs of existing and future businesses. Provide support services for the unemployed and help maintain and expand businesses in areas of high unemployment.
• Theme 14 Quality of Place: Build on Cork’s strong place quality assets and improve the attractiveness of the city for residents and visitors.
• Theme 15 Competitiveness Through Strategic Governance: Cooperate with other stakeholders to deliver the strategic governance that ensures that Cork remains a competitive location for economic activity and to maintain the excellent quality of life available in Cork which underpins the city’s competitiveness.
7.15
The LECP is scheduled for review in 2021/2022. This will provide an opportunity to revise these objectives and ensure that there is a collaborative approach to delivering the actions required to underpin the City Development Plan.
7.16
Fáilte Ireland is currently leading the preparation of a Tourism Destination Plan for Cork City and East Cork. It is envisaged that this plan will seek to broaden the appeal of Cork to tourists by enhancing the tourism product and strengthening the existing assets of the city. The plan will also build on the lessons of COVID 19 by, for example, enhancing the attractiveness of outdoor dining and other activities in the City and develop sustainable tourism products and services, building on the strength of the maritime heritage of the City. It is also envisaged that the plan will support the expansion of the night-time economy, particularly for families, by expanding the cultural offering of the city.
Spatial Economic Strategy
7.17
The NPF sets ambitious targets for Cork City to grow by 125,000 by 2040. It is estimated that approximately 31,000 jobs will need to be created in Cork City by 2028. In making provision for sufficient zoned employment land to accommodate this level of jobs growth, the Development Plan adopts a proactive, flexible economic strategy informed by the findings of two evidence base studies: the Cork Strategic Employment Locations Study (2021) and the draft Cork Metropolitan Area Joint Retail Study and Strategy (2021). In addition to quantifying the jobs target and the level of employment land, the Development Plan through the spatial distribution of new employment lands has sought to positively respond to wider challenges that includes targeting neighbourhoods where there are relatively high levels of unemployment, creating inclusive and sustainable communities and anticipating likely market trends over the period to 2028. An overview of the economic strategy is outlined below:
a) Jobs Target and Disaggregation of Jobs
Based on the analysis contained within the Cork Strategic Employment Locations Study 2021 (SELS), the projected population growth within Cork City is estimated to generate approximately 31,000 new jobs and this is later disaggregated as follows:
Overall Target to 2028 | Retail1 | Office | Manufacturing / Light Industry |
31,000 | 7,130 (23%) | 17,980 (58%) | 5,890 (19%) |
Table 7.1: Disaggregated Jobs Targets to 2028
b) Employment Land Requirement
The retail jobs target of 7,130 is addressed through the retail strategy, primarily on lands already zoned for retail-related uses. The quantum of employment land to accommodate the office and manufacturing/light industry jobs projection is assessed within the SELS using international best practice whilst also taking account of the need to plan for replacement employment lands to accommodate approximately 4,000 jobs that are likely to be displaced from regeneration areas including City Docks, Tivoli and areas under regeneration influence such as Tramore Road. The SELS quantifies a need to identify 228ha of employment lands to accommodate the office/manufacturing/light industry needs of the City over the period to 2028.
c) Review of Existing Strategic Employment Land Zonings
The Development Plan, guided by the SELS, undertook a review of lands zoned for employment at Tivoli, the Cork Science and Innovation Park (CSIP), Ballincollig, Cork International Airport and Kilbarry and applied more realistic development timeframes or re-zoned the lands for alternative uses.
d) New Strategic Employment Lands
The Development Plan provides for approximately 243ha of zoned, undeveloped employment lands that also includes an allowance for employment from proposals within the City Centre Core, Town Centres, District Centres and mixed-use sites over the period to 2028. The Plan has taken forward some of the recommended new strategic employment lands listed in the SELS and in total identifies 7 new strategic employment locations. These have been targeted at or within close proximity of areas with higher unemployment rates as it the case with the new employment locations at Hollyhill, Clogheen, Fairhill and Ballyvolane. Lands at Blarney, Glanmire, South Link Industrial Estate have been identified owing to the proximity to successful employment facilities or where there is market demand for a location alongside the strategic road network.
The economic strategy, through the review of existing zonings and the identification of new strategic employment lands throughout the city.
Cork City Economic Goals
7.18
Based on the analysis of the economic trends, combined with the need to address the socioeconomic imbalances in the city, the development objectives of City Development Plan seek to support Cork City Council, along with other partners to achieve the following goals:
1. Support Sustainable Economic Growth;
2. Continue to Attract Foreign Direct Investment;
3. Support Indigenous Enterprise and Entrepreneurship;
4. Develop a Socially Inclusive City;
5. Support Innovation, Research and Development – An Innovation City;
6. Address Climate Action – A City of Neighbourhoods;
7. Enhance Tourism;
8. (Foster Quality of Placemaking;
9. Build a Diverse Economic; and
10. Support a Full Range Excellent Products and Services.
7.19
Details of each of these are provided in the paragraphs that follow. Combined they are designed to ensure that Cork can continue to compete globally for business and investment opportunities, while supporting social inclusion and ensure that the city’s economy is resilient to economic cycles and shocks.
7.20
The NPF sets ambitious targets for Cork City to grow by 125,000 by 2040. It is estimated that approximately 31,000 jobs will need to be created in Cork City by 2028. This will require a considerable effort by employers, agencies and academia to ensure that the City’s economic ecosystem can support this level of job creation. It will also need a broad range of property solutions to satisfy the needs of employers, from entrepreneurs and small businesses to larger multi-national companies, and cater for office based, manufacturing and services based employment.
7.21
As previously stated, the CMA has been relatively successful in attracting and sustaining foreign direct investment. These are broadly in sectors that require either office or manufacturing based property solutions. By its nature the timeframe of the investment can be uncertain, however the city must be ready to harness suitable opportunities that arise. Therefore, Cork City Council will work with
IDA Ireland and private sector developers to ensure that there the suite of property solutions required by FDI companies is available.
7.22
It is important that the economy of the city is not overly dependent on FDI. Cork City Council will continue to harness entrepreneurship in the city. Acting as a first-stop-shop, Cork City Local Enterprise Office (LEO) will continue to support small businesses in Cork. In addition, the City Council will work with Enterprise Ireland, academia and local communities to support entrepreneurship and business start-ups throughout the city.
7.23
While economic development is only one instrument that can help to address social exclusion, it will be important to ensure that there is improved access to employment opportunities for all residents of Cork. The property solutions set out in this development plan are designed to support job creation in areas of the city experience social deprivation.
7.24
For business based in Cork City, whether they are indigenous enterprise or FDI, to continue to succeed they must continuously innovate. The skills available in the city, along with the level of research and development conducted in Cork must continue to squarely meet the needs of a quickly evolving economy. This requires ongoing development of the two universities located in the City; University College Cork and Munster Technological University. It will also need the provision of a broad spectrum of skills, provided by UCC, MTU, Cork City Education and Training Board along with other education institutions and business representative organisations.
7.25
In light of the development of Cork Science and Innovation Campus, along with the development of MTU, UCC, Cork University Hospital, the City Centre, the Docklands, and Mahon along the proposed route of the Light Rail Transit network, an Innovation Corridor is emerging in the city. The objective is to strengthen innovation in the Cork and ensure that it the benefits are spread throughout the city.
7.26
Cork is a UNESCO City of Learning, using knowledge and talent as a key enabler for city and economic growth. In addition to University
College Cork and Munster Technological University, Cork City has four Colleges of Further Education (CityNorth College, Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, St John’s Central College and Cork College of Commerce) and benefits from the work of the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB), Regional Skills Forum for the South West, SOLAS and other stakeholders in strengthening an expanding the education and training ecosystem in Cork City.
7.27
As set out in Chapter 5 of this Draft City Development Plan it is envisaged that there will be key climate change and carbon emission targets for Cork to 2050. However, the Neighbourhood Profile of the city highlights that the majority of people living in Cork commute outside of their neighbourhoods to work, and there is a higher than average dependence on private cars to commute to school or work. This Development Plan will seek to create employment opportunities in each neighbourhood of the city. This will include the objective to foster entrepreneurship in each neighbourhood by supporting communities who plan to develop community enterprise centres in their local areas.
7.28
Cork has an emerging cluster of excellence in the energy sector. The City Council will support this cluster to identify solutions, including those that provide business opportunities, to reduction of emissions.
7.29
Cork City Council will support those affected by the transition to a low carbon and digital economy by implementing just transition measures.
7.30
Cork City Council will consider ways of enhancing the sustainability of food consumed in the city by promoting local produce and urban farming.
7.31
While Cork is an attractive city, the majority of tourists visit the city for business purposes, the city needs to diversify its tourist market by attracting more leisure tourists. This will be achieved by developing a broader range of activities in the City. Cork City Council will support the expansion of the cultural offering of the city. In particular, the development of the Crawford Arts Centre and the provision of the Cork Events Centre. In addition, the City Council will work with existing attractions to continuously improve their offering. The City Council will enable the expansion of the range of cultural attractions, with an emphasis on the maritime and other heritage assets of the City. Cork City Council will support the development of outdoor activities, including outdoor dining, sports, and cultural activities. Cork City Council will implement a wayfinding strategy for the city, to improve information and interpretation of the range of activities in the City. The tourist accommodation supply should match demand in a sustainable manner.
7.32
Quality placemaking is recognised as a method of improving the quality of life of residents and attracting visitors to the city. In addition, the quality of the city enhances the potential to attract internationally mobile skilled labour. Cork City Council will implement public realm enhancements throughout the city, in particular, Bishop Lucey Park, Marina Park, The Grand Parade Quarter, MacCurtain
Street along with other areas in the city centre and neighbourhoods throughout the city.
7.33
Economic resilience is dependent on both the diversity of economic activity, and the scope to attract new or emerging economic sectors. In addition to the property solutions and the enterprise ecosystem, Cork City Council will support a diverse range of economic sectors by enabling the provision of utilities, connectivity / broadband and transport solutions required by these sectors. In particular,
Cork City will continue to adapt to the quickly evolving digital environment and seek to implement and continuously review the Cork City Digital Strategy. Importantly, Cork City will implement smart specialisation measures in economic sectors of strength.
7.34
Becoming a city of scale will provide commercial opportunities for a more diverse range of business services. It will also create a market for continued excellence in products and services, whether they are local retail, hospitality, cultural services, business support services such as accountancy, legal services, logistics, financial services / banking, rural enterprises etc.
Strategic Employment Locations
7.35
Cork City’s key employment locations as identified in the MASP include Cork City Centre, Hollyhill, Tramore Road, Blackpool / Kilbarry, University College Cork, Munster Technological University, Cork International Airport, Model Farm Road / South Environs, Cork University Hospital and Cork Science and Innovation Park. To inform this Development Plan, Cork City Council conducted a review of strategic employment locations which considered the future needs for employment lands and other property solutions over the period of the plan as outlined below.
7.36
The Cork City Strategic Employment Location Study (2021) was commissioned to inform the Development Plan in relation to the property requirements for office and manufacturing-based employment. This considered the level of land zoned to meet the needs to support growth of a broad range of sectors over the lifetime of the plan (2022 – 2028) and onto 2031.
This involved an assessment of job requirements to support projected growth to 2028; a baseline assessment of existing office and manufacturing supply and zoned employment land; a qualitative and quantitative assessment of future zoned land requirements to meet the needs of the sectors and job projections; and recommendations on potential new strategic employment locations in the City to meet these growth requirements.
7.37
As set out in the SELS, to achieve the targeted growth in employment that reflects the growth ambition for Cork City. In addition, when considering the quantum of land required for employment use it is important to consider the needs of businesses in areas that are earmarked for regeneration e.g. Cork City Docklands and Tramore Road. There is also a need to ensure that Cork City can compete
for internationally mobile investment and to provide opportunities for existing business to re-locate to larger premises whilst continuing to operate in their current location while the new premises is under construction/refurbishment, thereby necessitating a flexible employment land strategy to allow for this churn. This dynamic nature of economic development emphasises the need to plan ahead to deliver serviced strategic employment sites.
For the purpose of informing the zoning of employment land in Cork City, a jobs target in the order of 31,000 jobs over the period to 2028 informs the Development Plan.
7.38
The SELS found that there is 650ha of employment zoned land in Cork City, of which 417ha is undeveloped. However, 63% of these undeveloped lands are spread across five sites (Tivoli, Kilbarry, Ballincollig, Cork International Airport and CSIP), all of which have longer term development trajectories. This Development Plan seeks to reprioritise this into a more realistic development framework that included reviewing all of the above growth locations.
7.39
Based on the SELS which applies international good practice in transposing jobs growth into zoned land requirements and accounts for additional zoned land to facilitate future decanting of up to 4,000 jobs from regeneration areas including City Docks, Tivoli and areas under regeneration influence such as Tramore Road, the Development Plan is informed by a minimum zoned employment land target of 228ha to meet office, manufacturing and light industry related employment needs.
7.40
The following Strategic Employment Sites are proposed across the City.
• Cork Science and Innovation Park: Considering the evolving dynamics of economic development the proposed composition of the CSIP will be made up of 35ha employment use, and zoning lands in the park to accommodate the expansion of MTU, the provision of open spaces and the long-term provision of housing.
• Cork International Airport: Cork City Council recognises the importance of Cork International Airport as a key driver of the Southern Region. There is a need to diversify the income sources of the airport to ensure it continues to be financially viable. Therefore, Cork City Council will work with Cork International Airport to agree a master plan for the development of the airport, which will include an element of employment lands. However, it is unlikely that these lands will be developed over the period of the plan due to infrastructural constraints.
• Ballincollig: Land north of Castle Road can deliver a mix of uses, including employment uses as part of a comprehensive, high quality development.
• Tivoli: The first phase of development of Tivoli will enable a mix of employment and residential uses at the western end of the site.
7.41
Additional lands have been identified as potential employment sites with a view to supporting social inclusion, attracting strategic investment and harnessing economic opportunities in a sustainable manner. These are outlined in the many zoning tables supplied in the following pages.
7.42
In total, the Development Plan provides for approximately 243 ha of zoned, undeveloped employment land (not including retail zonings) including an allowance for employment from proposals within the City Centre Core, Town Centres, District Centres and mixed-use sites over the period to 2028.
(Click on Maps below for High Resolution Image)
Strategic Employment Site | Blarney Business Park Extension | Zoning | Light Industry and Related Uses |
Area | 22.5 ha | Zoning Tier | Tier 1 |
StrategicEmployment Site1 |
Strategic Employment Site | Clogheen Business Park Extension | Zoning | Light Industry and Related Uses |
Area | 6.7 ha | Zoning Tier | Tier 1 |
StrategicEmployment Site2 |
|
Strategic Employment Site | Land on Ballyvolane | Zoning | Mixed Use |
Area | 31 ha | Zoning Tier | Tier 2 |
StrategicEmployment Site3 |
Strategic Employment Site | Land at Glanmire | Zoning | Light Industry and Related Uses |
Area | 57 ha | Zoning Tier | Tier 2 |
StrategicEmployment Site4
|
|
Strategic Employment Site | South Link Industrial Estate | Zoning | Light Industry and Related Uses |
Area | 3 ha | Zoning Tier | Tier 2 |
StrategicEmployment Site5 |
Strategic Employment Site | Fairhill | Zoning | Light Industry and Related Uses |
Area | 9 ha | Zoning Tier | Tier 1 |
StrategicEmployment Site6 |
Strategic Employment Site | Land on Holyhill | Zoning | Light Industry and Related Uses |
Area | 15 ha | Zoning Tier | Tier 1 |
StrategicEmployment Site7 |
Key Employment Types
7.43
Office uses form a vital part of Cork City economy and provide a significant and amount of employment, particularly in the City Centre.
A wide range of activities take place in an office environment including retail offices such as banks, general business activities but also technology uses such as software development and various forms of research and development.
7.44
Office based activities tend to have a high density of employment when compared to manufacturing uses and as such are better suited to locations which are accessible by public transport and other sustainable transport modes2. The impact of the COVID 19
pandemic on the density of employees per office space is not yet clear, however, it is anticipated that employers will require lower densities and, in some cases, offer a blended solution of office and remote working. Both options will be provided for in Cork City.
7.45
Cork City, and particularly the City Centre with proportionate provision in the District Centres and urban towns, represent the most appropriate and sustainable locations for office development.
7.46
Retail offices are those where financial, professional and other services are provided to visiting members of the public. The primary location for retail offices will continue to be the City Centre and District Centres. These are addressed within the retail section of this chapter below.
7.47
General offices provide a range of financial, professional and other services and administrative services. In some instances, they may be combined with a retail office in appropriate locations. As outlined above there is increasing overlap between technology and general office functions in terms of the type of accommodation they need and the density of employment. This has locational implications due to potentially high levels of traffic generation if alternatives to the car are unavailable.
7.48
The main focus for office uses in the city has traditionally been the City Centre, where the mix of retail office and general office activities are essential to the health and vibrancy of the City Centre. While there has been significant office construction in the
City Centre in the last decade these new facilities are nearing full occupation as set out in the Cork City Strategic Employment Locations Study (SELS).
7.59
There remains scope for development of large floor plate offices in the City Centre and eastwards into Docklands, as a natural extension of the City Centre. This Plan will strongly support development of offices in these areas which can be served by existing transport and other infrastructure. The employment generated would also help support the City Centre retail and service functions.
7.50
General offices will be open for consideration in Business and Technology zones in the suburbs of the city, provided each office unit is greater than 1,000 sqm in area, in order to encourage smaller office uses to locate in the City Centre. These zones are well dispersed throughout the city and currently provide a significant amount of employment. In order to increase focus on the City Centre and
adjacent mixed-use areas for office development over the next plan period, the Cork City Council will be guided by the general distribution strategy set out in the Cork City SELS and in the Strategic Employment Locations section above.
7.51
General office uses will also be open for consideration in District Centres, provided they are in scale with the overall size of the specific District Centre and do not exceed a total of 20,000 sqm in any one District Centre.
7.52
Traditional industries are being replaced by new categories of business which provide a range of products and services in an environment which is frequently similar to a modern office environment. These businesses are sometimes known as office-based industry. They include activities such as software development, information technology, telemarketing, commercial research and development, data processing, publishing, and media recording. They are increasingly locating in City Centre and edge of City Centre locations. Cork City Council will support development of these activities, particularly in the City Centre and Docklands and also in the suburban Business and Technology Zones. As these are frequently high intensity employment uses similar to offices, the provision of high-quality public transport will be a priority in determining the capacity of suburban locations to take these activities.
7.53
Light industry and manufacturing are core contributors to the local economy. They provide for a diverse economic base to support a more inclusive and resilient city overall.
7.54
There is a need to protect space for these uses due to increasing land values and higher density developments and this can be done effectively through zoning. As set out in the strategic employment locations section, consideration also needs to be given to how these uses are distributed throughout Cork City with integration between the economic uses and current skills-sets whilst also looking ahead to upskilling and higher education attainment rates city-wide.
7.55
The general strategy will be to retain the majority of these light industrial areas and where possible, provide for their expansion where there is limited capacity in existing facilities or zoned areas. Offices or office-based industry or retail uses will not be permitted in areas zoned for light industry unless they are ancillary to the primary industrial uses. Leisure uses which are compatible with the surrounding uses may be open for consideration in limited cases where no other suitable location is available, the land is not needed for industrial uses (documentary evidence may be required), and taking into account access, traffic and broader safety issues, and amenity considerations. In determining the compatibility of any particular leisure use within this zone Cork City Council will take into account inter alia existing levels of nonindustrial uses in the surrounding zoned area; the major land use in any area zoned for light industry purposes should be uses permitted under the primary objective of this land-use zoning.
7.56
There are a number of general industrial uses in transitional parts of Cork City where planned regeneration is proposed, such as Tivoli and Docklands, but also in areas that are under regeneration influence such as Tramore Road. Cork City Council supports and will facilitate the relocation of these industries to more appropriate and suitable premises, including the strategic employment locations identified in this Plan.
7.57
Commercial leisure facilities are those run on a profit basis and include cinemas, family entertainment centres such as bowling, indoor children’s play centres, fitness centres, gyms, swimming pools, hotels, restaurants, public houses etc. Commercial leisure facilities generate a high level of movement and are best located in places that offer the highest levels of accessibility to a range of transport modes, in particular public transport.
7.58
However, it is also important to protect the amenities of the City Centre and of residential areas. The City Council will therefore seek to control the location, size and activities of entertainment uses that are likely to attract large numbers of people, in particular ‘super pubs’ and night clubs, in order to safeguard residential amenity, environmental quality and the established character and function of parts of the City Centre.
7.59
Home-based economic activities include home / remote working and small-scale commercial activities carried out by residents of a dwelling which are ancillary to the main use of the property as residential accommodation. It has been magnified as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, though the long term trend is still unknown. Cork City Council supports more flexible and sustainable working practices and recognises their potential in transitioning to a carbon neutral society, improving quality of life and making the labour market more accessible to those who cannot commit to longdistance commuting or being permanently based in a workplace.
7.60
As a separate consideration, home-based economic activities also encompass uses such as smallscale childcare provision, art-based activities such as painting or craft workshops, and single person offices such as professional services where public access is not a normal requirement. These activities can take place within existing buildings or in new live-work units specifically designed to accommodate home-based economic activities. This latter form of development would be appropriate in locations within the City Centre and Docklands, and in or close to Town, District or Neighbourhood and Local Centres. As set out previously in this chapter, the establishment of neighbourhood enterprise centres will be supported by Cork City Council, and these also complement home-based activities or a transition towards home-based activities as not all existing properties will have sufficient space or suitable working environment.
7.61
Cork City owes its origins and historic growth to its maritime location and functions. Although the migration of Port activity to a more appropriate location at Ringaskiddy is required to maximise the competitiveness of the facility in a global maritime market, Cork City will continue to support the migration of the Port and facilitate the growth of the maritime economy within the wider Cork Metropolitan Area and Southern Region. Although the primary maritime-related functions are relocating, the sector, the city council will support the development of the maritime economy by facilitating the education, research and development and professional services that relate to the maritime economy.
7.62
The rural economy provides employment in the City’s hinterland. It also plays a role in providing a sustainable food supply, transitioning towards a carbon neutral society, improving the quality of the environment, curating the natural landscape and character of our rural areas, supporting tourism and facilitating active recreation. In a Cork City context, the rural hinterland supports a mix of businesses of varying sizes across a range of sectors; however, it is also under strong urban influence and the development plan needs to protect its character and quality, whilst supporting its housing, employment, infrastructure and community requirements.
7.63
One of the 10 National Strategic Outcomes in the National Planning Framework seeks to deliver stronger rural economic and communities while the Government’s Charter for Rural Ireland (2016) seeks “to support enterprise creation and development, maintain and restore the rural cultural heritage, support and protect existing towns and settlements, facilitate safe and secure rural communities and foster an increased quality of life for all rural dwellers”. This underpins this Development Plan and Cork City Council will support and facilitate the growth and diversification of the rural economy alongside associated improvements to help improve the
quality of life for those living in rural settlements and the hinterland.
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In March 2021, the Department of Rural and Community Development published its ‘Our Rural Future: Government’s blueprint to transform rural Ireland’. It forms a 5-year transformational strategy for rural development that focuses on facilitating remote working, revitalising town centres, rural jobs, adventure tourism, green economy and broadband roll-out. All of these considerations are applicable to Cork City’s hinterland.
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The Development Plan supports in principle the enhancement and expansion of rural economic uses such as agriculture, agri-food, agri-tech, rural crafts and arts, social enterprises, forestry, tourism and horticulture. This also extends to entrepreneurial projects and initiatives arising from these uses, particularly where they generate environmental betterment.
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There are also further opportunities to enhance economic potential and jobs creation through innovation and diversification in Cork City’s hinterland.
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Cork City already benefits from a host of creative and artistic enterprise and this economic niche area will be supported into the future as part of the overall strategy of delivering a more diverse economy. The sector includes, but is not limited to, music, film, visual and performing arts, IT, publishing, art and crafts. The City Council will encourage the delivery of new workspace for SMEs, the creative industries, artists and the fashion industry within new mixed-use developments and will work with stakeholders to explore opportunities for workspaces to be delivered.
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Tourism is an important indigenous economic industry in Cork City where it provides income and jobs through direct and indirect employment. It also plays a valuable role in promoting Cork as a place to live and work to visitors and businesses with the sector often acting as an initial interface between Ireland and international investors, therefore representing an opportunity to positively influence
foreign direct investment. Cork City boasts a high quality natural, cultural and built heritage and forms a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East. In 2019, prior to disruption associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism sector generated €9.5 billion nationally, equating to 3.6% of GNP in revenue terms. The south west region, including Cork, was the second highest performing
region (behind Dublin) in terms of the number of visitors in 2019 and Blarney Castle and Gardens was in the top-10 of fee-charging visitor attractions in the State, attracting a total of 460,000 visitors in the same year3. More recently, travel website ‘European Best Destinations’ cited Cork as among the 15 of the ‘European Best Destinations 2020’ following a vote of more than 600,000 people.4
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Ireland’s national tourism policy, ‘People, Place and Policy: Growing Tourism to 2025’ seeks to maximise the economic contribution of tourism, while protecting the invaluable assets that are our natural, built and cultural heritage. This reflects the approach of Cork City Council in promoting the sustainable growth and expansion of tourism in the city whilst protecting the very assets and uses that attract tourism. It is a diverse and dynamic sector with intense competition for visitors and this is likely to be amplified as the global tourism sector recovers from setbacks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Heritage, cultural, creative and arts facilities form a key part of Cork City’s tourism offer and catalyst for further growth in visitor numbers. These are discussed in greater detail in Chapter 8 while the tourism potential of rural parts of the wider city is discussed above and the City’s Green and Blue Infrastructure is addressed in Chapter 6 Green and Blue Infrastructure, Open Space and Biodiversity.
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As previously stated, at the time of preparation of the Draft Development Plan, Cork City Council is working with Fáilte Ireland and other stakeholders to prepare a Tourism Destination Plan for Cork City and East Cork. It is envisaged that this will address the reliance of Cork City’s tourism market on commercial tourism. There is a need to broaden this base to include leisure tourism by developing the tourism products and activities in the city.
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Cork City Council supports in principle the enhancement and expansion of existing visitor facilities and the development of new facilities and activities, particularly those which offer optimize opportunities associated with our City’s rich natural, built and cultural heritage and seek to introduce a new type of attraction which will help diversify the range of visitor attractions in the City. In particular
the City Council will support the expansion of the cultural offering of the city, notably the development of the Crawford Art Gallery and the delivery of the Cork Events Centre.
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Cork City Council will also explore with stakeholders opportunities to introduce public realm improvements and better utilise our green and blue infrastructure particularly as part of our ambitious regeneration, compact growth and city neighborhood proposals.
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In common with all other themes within this Development Plan, Cork City Council actively promotes a transition towards a more environmentally sustainable tourism sector.
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The availability of a choice of visitor accommodation across a range of accommodation types is a key enabling factor in fostering tourism growth. The accommodation stock in Cork City, akin to cities worldwide, is weighted towards hotels. Despite limited growth pre-2018 and an under-supply of visitor bed spaces, the number of new hotel proposals and extensions to existing facilities has significantly increased in the meantime with number of new or expanded premises opening or construction nearing completion and more proposals in the pipeline. As the city’s demographic expands with commensurate increase in economic growth, there is likely to be more demand for accommodation to support commercial and leisure tourism and this will need to be supported by visitor accommodation growth into the future.
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In addition to hotel rooms, alternative formal visitor accommodation types are essential for providing a choice of facilities to meet the different needs of visitors. This includes exploring opportunities to provide short-term stay motorhome parking facilities with associated services.
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In the majority of cases, hotel accommodation should be delivered within the City Centre and Urban Town Centres where public transport capacity and associated visitor services are most prevalent. In all instances, development or conversion proposals to provide visitor accommodation should be located close to existing or planned public transport corridors with greater emphasis on sustainable
transport options and significant adverse impacts on residential amenity avoided facilities are locatedadjoining or close to residential development.
Retail
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This section aims to promote the vitality and viability of the main retail centres in Cork City and encourage their function as mixed-use centres into the future. The Cork Metropolitan Area Joint Retail Study and Strategy 2021 is currently being prepared on behalf of Cork City Council and Cork County Council in accordance with the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012) and it is envisaged that upon completion, its findings will be incorporated into the adopted Cork City Development Plan. This section focuses on the overarching policies relevant to the retail sector in the City.
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The retail market has undergone significant changes in recent years, with trends including a steady increase in online shopping evident over the past decade. There is a new focus on ‘experience’ as part of the draw of city and town centres, with a move away from mainly comparison retail (for definition see: Glossary of Terms) to a greater emphasis on leisure, culture, food and beverage.
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The Covid-19 pandemic presented challenges in attracting people into centres with the closure of non-essential retail and more people working from home during periods of higher restriction on movement. It is currently unclear what long-term impact the pandemic will have on Irish shopping patterns, but vacancies have continued to escalate on prime high streets and in shopping centres around the country in recent months. Larger city centres have been particularly adversely affected due to the absence of students, office workers
and tourists. However, despite these trends and continued global uncertainty, the Irish economy and the retail sector remained strong and competitive prior to the pandemic and are likely to recover postpandemic. Investing in the consumer experience is anticipated to be the key to success in securing resilience in retail moving forward, with policy support playing an important role in helping to future-proof city and town centres against the ongoing uncertainty.
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The challenge will be meeting the demand for mixed-use centres and bringing new life into our cities and towns, by supporting retail, and providing for a range of other uses including residential, leisure and recreation, employment, tourism, civic, community, cultural, health and education. The retail industry must be able to adapt to changing circumstances in order to maintain a strong post-pandemic economy.
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The retail hierarchy defines the role and importance of retail centres and forming the basis for determining the quantum and location of new retail development in the Cork Metropolitan Area. It is based on the Retail Hierarchy set out in the Cork Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan - Cork MASP Policy Objective 16 and the City’s Settlement Strategy, with the role of the various centres outlined on the next page.
Table 7.2: Cork Metropolitan Area Retail Hierarchy (Cork City locations shown in black, Cork County locations shown
in bold type)
Local Level |
Type of Centre |
Name of Centre |
Level 1 | Metropolitan Centre | Cork City Centre |
Level 2 | Planned District Centre | Ballyvolane |
Level 2 | District Centre | Blackpool |
Level 2 | District Centre | Douglas |
Level 2 | Planned District Centre | Hollyhill |
Level 2 | District Centre | Mahon Point |
Level 2 | District Centre | Wilton |
Level 2 | Large Urban Town Centre | Ballincollig |
Level 2 | Planned District Centre | Cork Docklands |
Level 2 | Large Metropolitan Town Centre | Carrigaline |
Level 2 | Large Metropolitan Town Centre | Cobh |
Level 2 | Large Metropolitan Town Centre | Midleton |
Level 3 | Small Urban Town Centre | Blarney |
Level 3 | Small Urban Town Centre | Glanmire |
Level 3 | Small Metropolitan Town Centre | Carrigtwohill |
Level 3 | Small Metropolitan Town Centre | Monard |
Level 3 | Small Metropolitan Town Centre | Passage West |
Level 4 | Neighbourhood / Local Centres and Large Village Centres | Identified on zoning maps |
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Cork City Centre is the main business, retail and leisure location in the Cork Metropolitan Area and is recognised by the Cork Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) as playing a Level 1 retail role (Metropolitan Centre). It is a focus for higher order comparison retail and caters to the needs of a wide catchment area. The City Centre is more than just a place to carry out retail activity with leisure, recreational, tourism and cultural activities also an important part of the local economy. Each of these complimentary functions will become more important to the City Centre in the future.
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Supporting and encouraging a healthy residential population is also a means of counter-acting the increasing draw to online and out-of-centre shopping. If promoted in a managed fashion, above ground floor living in the City Centre can add significant footfall and increase vitality and viability. As outlined in the City Centre section of this Plan (see Chapter 10), comparison shopping will continue to be encouraged at ground floor level on Primary Retail Frontages (St. Patrick’s Street and Opera Lane) with some complimentary uses
permitted in exceptional circumstances, where it can be demonstrated that these will enhance the main retail function of these streets. A key part of achieving a sustainable mix of uses lies in taking advantage of areas that would be most appropriate for food and beverage uses that can activate the street in summer, providing outdoor seating and encouraging activity on the street. The most appropriate locations are south-facing façades an corners sites where two sides of a building can be activated to encourage pedestrian flow without blocking the public thoroughfare. Such sites have been identified in the Mapped Objectives. It is important to continue to support a comparison goods function, therefore these uses should support rather than dominate the provision of retail on St. Patrick’s Street. Another attribute of the City Centre is the high number of independently owned shops, an important asset as ‘authentic experiences’, good customer services and variety, which contribute to the attractiveness of the City Centre as a place to visit.
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District Centres and Large Urban Town Centres are at Level 2 in the Retail Hierarchy, performing a range of retail and non-retail service functions including the provision of a range of convenience shopping (for definition see: Glossary of Terms), a range of comparison outlets and local services such as banks, post office, restaurants, public houses, community and cultural facilities. They serve a localised function and provide for the weekly shopping needs of their catchment areas. District Centres are the centres located within the City Suburbs (Blackpool, Wilton, Mahon Point and Douglas) and Large Urban Town Centres include Ballincollig Town Centre. There are also 3 planned District Centres to cater for areas of population growth within the City (Ballyvolane and Cork Docklands), or where the range of services merits enhancement to serve its catchment (Hollyhill). It should be noted that the primary function of these centres should be mixed-use in nature, with a range of retail services, community and social facilities to meet the day-to-day needs of the local population and should not be dominated by one particular type of use.
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Blarney and Glanmire are Small Urban Town Centres (Level 3 in the Retail Hierarchy). They have a more limited retail role and function than Level 2 District Centres and Large Urban Town Centres. Retail representation in these centres is primarily focused on local convenience and service provision, with a limited comparison offer such as small-scale hardware, retail pharmacies and clothes shops.
Given the level of proposed residential growth in Blarney and Glanmire some additional retail development could be directed towards these centres in order to allow them to adequately cater for the needs of their future populations, thereby reinforcing their Small Urban Town status.
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The Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) identifies these types of centres as providing shopping at the most local level, through a mixture of neighbourhood shops in suburban areas, and village stores or post-offices in rural areas. They are included at Level 4 of the Retail Hierarchy and generally comprise a small group of shops, typically a newsagent, small supermarket or general grocery store, sub-post office and other small shops of local nature serving a small, localised catchment population. They are identified in the zoning maps included in Volume 2. Neighbourhood and local centres are generally anchored by a small or medium sized convenience store and tend to include a number of smaller, associated local service units that enhance the overall appeal of the centre in terms of service provision and design. It is essential that they are mixed-use centres incorporating a range of local services. In assessing applications for new centres, the Council will have regard to the proximity of nearby alternative retail facilities and the vitality and viability of these
centres, the design quality of the proposed centre and its mix of uses, ensuring that the centre is not overtly dominated by one particular unit or use. This should be demonstrated through the submission of a Retail Impact Assessment (see details below).
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Small local shops such as corner shops selling convenience goods are generally located in residential areas serving the daily needs of nearby residents and are of a such a small scale that does not merit inclusion in the Retail Hierarchy. It is recognised that these shops can play an important role in urban or village life, however any new proposals should be of a size and scale which would not be detrimental to the health of nearby centres defined within the retail hierarchy and should not have a negative impact on residential amenity. Guidance on petrol filling station shops is included in Chapter 11 Placemaking and Managing Development.
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The Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) defines a Retail Warehouse as a large single-level store specialising in the sale of bulky household goods such as carpets, furniture and electrical goods, and bulky DIY items, catering mainly for carborne customers. Existing provision includes Blackpool Retail Park, Mahon Point Retail Park and Turner’s Cross Retail Park. There are also a number of locations that function as industrial estates and business parks, rather than obvious retail destinations, which host retail warehousing operators such as Kinsale Road Retail Park, Doughcloyne Industrial Estate, the Ballincollig Link Road and Northpoint Business Park. Such
developments have generally been delivered in a piecemeal manner, and care must be taken to ensure that similar developments do not have negative impacts on the vitality and viability of nearby designated centres.
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There will be a general presumption against the development of additional retail parks and further retail warehousing located in industrial estates and business parks. The preferred location for new retail warehousing / bulky goods floor space is within the District Centres and Ballincollig (Large Urban) Town Centre. Certain sites within City Docks may also be appropriate. It is important that the range of goods sold in retail parks / retail warehouses is controlled to protect the comparison shopping function of the City Centre and other comparison locations identified in the Retail Hierarchy. The Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) acknowledges that there are ancillary items associated with an otherwise bulky good but recommend that the retail floorspace devoted to such ancillary products should not exceed 20% of the total net retail floorspace of the relevant retail warehouse unit.
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Upon completion, the Joint Retail Strategy will set out capacity figures for comparison and convenience floorspace requirements in the Cork Metropolitan Area. Any future retail floorspace should be distributed in line with national guidance on the sequential approach. The Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) confirm that the sequential approach to retail development is an overarching objective in retail planning to enhance the vitality and viability of city and town centres.
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The Core Retail Areas (CRAs) for the City Centre, District Centres and Large Urban Town Centres (Levels 1 and 2 of the Retail Hierarchy) are the preferred locations for significant new retail development within the City. These centres are identified in the Mapped Objectives as the City Centre Core Retail Area and the areas zoned District Centre in the case of the suburban centres and Ballincollig Town Centre. The sequential approach should be applied to new development, change of use and extension applications that are of a scale that is likely to have a significant impact on the role and function of existing retail centres. The order of priority is to locate retail development in the City Centre and designated District Centres/Ballincollig Town Centre and to only allow retail development in edge-of-centre or out-ofcentre locations where all other options have been exhausted. There will be a general presumption against large, out-of-centre retail development in the City. Where an edge of centre site is proposed, the applicant must demonstrate that no other sites or potential sites including vacant units are suitable, available or viable within the centre. The Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) define the edge of centre area as being within easy walking distance of the identified primary retail area (usually between 300 and 400 metres of the Core Retail Area and to be confirmed in individual circumstances).
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Significant retail proposals should be supported by a Retail Impact Assessment, in order to demonstrate compliance with the City Development Plan and that there will be no adverse effect on the vitality and viability of any existing retail centre, including its revitalisation and rejuvenation, and aligns to the principle of achieving compact growth. Retail Impact Assessments shall be in
accordance with the requirements as set out in the Retail Planning Guidelines (2012). The requirement to submit a retail impact assessment shall be determined by Cork City Council and may be done so at pre-application consultation stage or in the course of determining the application.
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The Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) advise the relevant planning authorities to regularly monitor trends in their area and update retail policies if appropriate. Cork City Council will monitor large retail permissions and review changes in population targets that may be carried out during the lifetime of the Plan to identify any policy adjustments required. It may also be necessary to review policy in light of the changing nature of the retail sector to ensure the vibrancy and vitality of the various centres.
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Enhancing the vitality and viability of the City Centre and other centres is key to maintaining vibrancy into the future. While the decline in the requirement for physical retail space was in place prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the many changes it has generated have served to help us understand how these centres should operate in the future. It is clear that the growth in online shopping will continue to increase, with new generations embracing this format.
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Many centres have performed better than expected during the pandemic because people have stayed local. While retail will always sit at the core of these centres’ function, city and town centres are turning more towards their original functions as places where people live, work, shop and socialise in the same location.
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Cork City Centre has retained a large number of independent retailers, which is a major asset considering the decline of department stores, large multiples and certain brands. In order to be successful the physical retail offer will need to differentiate itself from that on the internet and will become heavily orientated towards providing for convenience goods and services, and fashion, with brands in their own units rather than part of a major store, as well as local basket food shopping, local products and a properly rounded offer. This offer will likely require smaller retail units. St. Patrick’s Street in particular could stand to benefit from this with a predominance of historic buildings containing smaller units. While retail sits at the core, there are many other uses that will complement it, including
food and beverage, leisure, cafés from which people can work, gyms, community uses, health and wellbeing amenities. There will potentially be an increase in the amount of residential and employment space, bringing people back into the heart of our centres.
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The development of the public realm is a key factor in creating and supporting a vibrant City Centre. Cork City Council’s investment in pedestrianisation in the City Centre and the trend towards outdoor dining, brought to the fore during the pandemic, is a welcome development. Centres will need to offer a truly rounded social and cultural experience which include pop-up events, market stalls, retail promotions and street entertainment, making sure there is always something new to see when people visit. Careful thought needs to be given to how the public realm is activated, ensuring that cafés and restaurants can spill out with their tables and chairs.
Live uses at ground floor level promote activity onto the public realm. New complementary uses need to be planned for those areas where retail used to exist, creating a sense of community. The ambition will be to create centres that are authentic, with their own strong sense of place which the public will respond to. Investing in the Night-time Economy, which encourages uses into the evening and that cater for all will also be encouraged. Further details on this are included in the City Centre section in Chapter 10.
To support Cork City’s role as the economic driver for the region and the creation of a strong, resilient, diverse and innovative economy and enable a just transition to a low carbon economy. Cork City Council will support the evolution of the innovation city by linking academia with employers and creating education and training opportunities for all. Employment growth will be focussed on the key strategic areas of the City Centre, docklands, urban towns, neighbourhoods, suburban district centres and strategic employment locations identified in this Plan. Cork City Council will support the development of a suite of property solutions in appropriate locations required for job creation in a diverse and evolving economy. Opportunities to diversify and strengthen the rural economy will be supported in appropriate locations. Cork City as a twin-university city will continue to be a city of learning, using knowledge and talent as a key enabler for city and economic growth. Tourism is an economic contributor and Cork City Council will support sustainable tourism product development and facilities in appropriate locations. Good urban design and placemaking are increasingly critical to successful economic development. Proposals for new employment, economic, educational, retail or tourism development in Cork City will be required to demonstrate high-quality architectural, landscape and urban design and placemaking, and will integrate with sustainable transport networks. Development proposals will be supported in appropriate locations across Cork City in accordance with the retail and employment strategies set out in this Plan. |
Objective 7.1 |
Objective 7.2 |
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Strategic Economic Plans
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Supporting Economic
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Objective 7.3 |
Objective 7.4 |
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Economic Clusters and
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Neighbourhood
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Objective 7.5 |
Objective 7.6 |
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Supporting an
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Social EnterpriseTo encourage and support social enterprise developments in the City which by their very nature seek to tackle and address social, economic and environmental challenges. |
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Objective 7.7 |
Objective 7.8 |
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Education & Skills
To continue supporting education, health, |
Mobility Management
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Objective 7.9 |
Objective 7.10 |
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Cork Digital City
a. To work with partners in implementing the Cork City Digital Strategy and any successor strategy to help communities and businesses meet emerging digital opportunities and compete internationally where digital transformation of economic functions is gaining momentum. |
New Strategic
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Objective 7.11 |
Objective 7.12 |
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Cork Science and
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Prime Office LocationsThe City Council will support the development of the City Centre and Docklands as the primary locations for higher order general office development in the city region. Any scale of general office is acceptable in the City Centre, while general offices over 400sqm will be acceptable in Docklands mixed use zones. |
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Objective 7.13 |
Objective 7.14 |
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Suburban General Offices
a. General offices units over 1,000 sqm will be open for consideration in suburban Business and Technology Zones, with due consideration given to the employment strategy, availability of alternative suitable sites in the City Centre and adjoining mixed use areas in Docklands, and assessment of the potential impact of the development on the City Centre. Availability of high-quality public transport will also be a factor in determining the capacity of these locations to take more intensive office development. |
Technology and
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Objective 7.15 |
Objective 7.16 |
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Light IndustryTo protect areas zoned for light industry for such uses in order to maintain an adequate supply of light industrial space and employment in order to help ensure a diverse range of employment opportunities in the city. |
Decanting of Industrial
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Objective 7.17 |
Objective 7.18 |
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Commercial LeisureEncourage a broad range of commercial leisure activities in key locations and in suitable locations throughout the city. |
Home Based Economic
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Objective 7.19 |
Objective 7.20 |
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Live Work UnitsTo promote and encourage the development of ‘Live work’ units capable of accommodating home based economic activities in areas around the City Centre/Docklands and other sustainable development locations such as in or close to Town/District/Neighbourhood/Local Centres. |
Maritime Economy
To support the Maritime Economy of Cork City and the wider region by: |
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Objective 7.21 |
Objective 7.22 |
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A Sustainable Rural
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Diversification of the
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Objective 7.23 |
Objective 7.24 |
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Creative ArtsTo support the growth and expansion of the creative industries and the arts in Cork City that includes encouraging the delivery of new workspaces as part of mixed-use developments and supporting the potential for workspaces. |
Sustainable Tourism
To support the sustainable growth of tourism and marketing of Cork City as a multi-faceted visitor destination and a gateway to the southern region, Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East by: |
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Objective 7.25 |
Objective 7.26 |
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Visitor Accommodation
• To encourage a mix of tourist accommodation including hotels, hostels, Bed and Breakfast, and Guesthouses to cater for a broad tourist market. |
Strategic Retail
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Objective 7.27 |
Objective 7.28 |
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City CentreTo protect and enhance the role of Cork City Centre as the primary retail centre in the Cork Metropolitan Area and the region by facilitating the continued regeneration and modernisation of existing building stock and supporting appropriate new development, coupled with a range of complimentary residential, leisure, recreational and cultural uses and investment in the public realm. |
District Centres and
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Objective 7.29 |
Objective 7.30 |
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Blarney and Glanmire
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Neighbourhood and
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Objective 7.31 |
Objective 7.32 |
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Small Local ShopsTo support, promote and protect small local shops including corner shops which provide an important retail service at a local level. Any proposed new local shops should serve a local need only and be of a size and scale which would not be detrimental to the health of nearby centres defined within the retail hierarchy and subject to the protection of residential amenity. |
Retail WarehousingTo improve the quality of retail warehouse / bulky goods floorspace, in accord-ance with the retail hierarchy and settlement strategy. Proposals for new retail warehousing / bulky goods floorspace should be located within District Centres or large Urban Town Centres or other lands zoned for retail warehousing. The development of new out-of-town retail parks or accommodating retail warehouse uses within industrial estates / business parks will generally be discouraged. The range of goods sold in retail warehouses should be restricted to the sale of bulky household items. The floorspace within retail warehouse / bulky goods units de voted to ‘ancillary products’ shall not exceed 20% of the total net retail floorspace of the relevant retail warehouse / bulky goods unit. |
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Objective 7.33 |
Objective 7.34 |
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Retail Impact
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Assessing New Retail
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Objective 7.35 |
Objective 7.36 |
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Vacant Floor SpaceTo encourage in the first instance that new retail floorspace be directed towards existing vacant units within existing designated centres. Cork City Council will seek to use its powers to tackle vacancy in the centres through active land management measures. |
Vibrant and Mixed-use
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- 1- Representing 23% of overall new jobs generation based on a review of CSO employment sectors / workplace zones in Cork City and assuming this percentage will remain constant through to 2028. Retail employment is addressed within the Cork Metropolitan Area Joint Retail Study and Strategy (2021).
- 2- UK Homes and Communities Agency, Employment Density Guide, 2015.
- 3- Fáilte Ireland Key Tourism Facts 2019 (Published March 2021).