CS/BW international group submission
The Cork CS/BW group primarily represents those new to Cork who have arrived to study or work in major multinational companies, pharmaceutical IT etc. as well as in local businesses. The biggest impediments to the excellent quality of life in Cork is the lack housing close to employment retail and leisure opportunities and the poor public transport infrastructure. Both problems are intimately intertwined with low density dispersed nature of residential but also retail and employment development. This is the number one impediment to recruiting and retaining high quality mobile international talent to Cork and Ireland which maintains and draws international investment to the cork region.
This submission is heavily based on the submission, we prepared for the city development plan before the first lockdown.
The quality of life in Cork is excellent that is what drives people to live here people want to live in a vibrant multicultural community. They want to be able to walk or cycle to work and when longer journeys have to be taken, they want reliable frequent public transport links.
Low density Suburbs and driving is not part of the vision of people who move here to work or study. Despite the many attractions of Cork the lack of housing the fact that people are forced out long distances to commute and that once you leave the city centre the car becomes dominant is driving people to give up well-paying jobs and leave the city and the country. It is extremely frustrating for people looking for somewhere to live in an urban centre close to where they work see so much space given over to car parking and roads. And when they do finally find an apartment to find that a substantial portion of the space and cost of that apartment block is accounted for by car parking spaces which habitually lie empty or are rented out to commuters at low cost. It takes the same amount of space and the same cost to provide a parking space as a bed space in a city centre apartment block yet while people regularly are forced to pay €1000 a month for a small bedroom in an apartment shared with strangers parking spaces in the same apartment block are rented out for a pittance.
In order to facilitate the efficient working of public transport and the take up of active travel which are the preferred mode of the vast majority of people who come to work and study in the city their needs must be prioritised above those drive. This means that if road space is limited, footpaths come first, then bike Lanes, then a bus lane and only if there is still space a car Lane. It means that the funding for public transport and active travel must be greater than that for building roads. It means that the first priority for policing should be safety of vulnerable road users, not keeping traffic flowing or moving on beggars or drinkers. It means that targets must be set for removing parking from the city centre and increasing the provision of public transport.
How do these amendments effect our priorities for making Cork a more liveable, welcoming, and competitive city?
In our Pre-draft submission on the city development plan in 2020 we requested the following actions to be taken and we look at how each amendment meets these objectives
Compact Growth
First that high density infill and brown field housing and commercial development he built rather than low-density out of town car-dependent developments which are impossible to reach by public or active transport.
We support the following amendments as they positively impact the above goal
1.32
1.35
1.38
1.41
1.42
1.46
1.72
1.74
1.86
1.88
1.289
1.298
1.321
1.322
We object to the following amendments as they negatively impact the above goal
1.57
1.61
1.62
1.134
1.219
1.241
1.332
Regarding amendments 1.26 & 1.27
We feel that no progress has been made in finding more sites for redevelopment in the city centre even though members can see vast areas of waste land and surface car parking from their rear facing windows all over the city centre. It is vital that accommodation is provided in the city centre not in outlying inaccessible areas. We would plead that planner examine google earth and locate empty lots hiding behind well maintained facades throughout the city centre.
We also feel that more ambition should be shown in acerating the provision of housing in the docklands.
Car Parking
Second that new developments be built without parking and any small amount of parking that is allowed be sold separately, that the likes of supermarkets be required to charge the full commercial coat or more for parking so that customers who walk, cycle or take the bus do not subsidize driving customers.
We support the following amendments as they positively impact the above goal
1.91
1.162
1.239
1.298
1.326
1.331
We object to the following amendments as they negatively impact the above goal
1.222
1.243
1.332
This amendment would have an extremely detrimental effect on the development, competitiveness and liveability of the city, by forcing up the cost of housing and other construction, lowering the number of bed spaces provided on sites, increasing the amount of traffic moving through the city making the city and less attractive, inviting and liveable place as well as damaging the health of the inhabitants. We object in the strongest possible manner to the often-dramatic increases in an already very liberal maximum allowed level of parking provision.
Social Streets
That streets be regarded as social spaces as the front garden of those who live in the city centre rather than as motorways.
We support the following amendments as they positively impact the above goal
1.35
1.38
1.320
1.326
1.331
We object to the following amendments as they negatively impact the above goal
1.241
1.247
Traffic speeds
That 30 km an hour is the maximum speed limit in all urban areas.
We support the following amendments as they positively impact the above goal
1.91
1.331
1.326
We object to the following amendments as they negatively impact the above goal
1.244
The hierarchy of provision
That a hierarchy of road users be put in placing pedestrians at the top followed by cyclists then by public transport with private motorized vehicles considered the last resort and lowest priority at all times.
We support the following amendments as they positively impact the above goal
1.35
1.38
1.86
1.88
1.91
1.101
1.303
1.304
1.316
1.320
1.326
1.330
1.331
We object to the following amendments as they negatively impact the above goal
1.222
1.241
1.243
1.244
1.247
1.254
Permeability
That the permeability of all urban areas for pedestrians and cyclists be ensured, both in new developments and existing areas.
We support the following amendments as they positively impact the above goal
1.101
1.128
1.320
1.326
1.331
We object to the following amendments as they negatively impact the above goal
1.134
1.247
Density
That density minimums are put in place to ensure enough housing is built where it’s needed and sprawl is prevented, at least 50,000 people/km2 in the city centre docklands etc. 20,000 for most suburban areas and an absolute minimum of 10,000/km2 for all urban areas.
That minimum floor space to site area ratios are introduced to ensure there is space as well as density and a grey space maximum put in place to reduce road, parking and wasted space.
We support the following amendments as they positively impact the above goal
1.321
1.322
We object to the following amendments as they negatively impact the above goal
1.219
Regarding amendments 1.26 & 1.27
We feel that insufficient progress has been made in increasing minimum densities across the city to European urban walkable norms, 100units/ha should be the absolute minimum for all except truly rural housing.
The 5/10/15-minute city
That the city should embrace the concept of a 5/10-minute city where accommodation, work, education, services, and entertainment all be available within a 5 or 10-minute walk.
We support the following amendments as they positively impact the above goal
1.1
1.35
1.41
1.54
1.101
1.320
1.321
1.322
1.326
We object to the following amendments as they negatively impact the above goal
1.134
1.241
Arts & Culture
That the city supports the arts and culture sector with attracts so many people & businesses to the city.
We support the following amendments as they positively impact the above goal
1.169
1.171
1.184
The following priorities do not appear to have been referenced in any amendments
Tax parking rather than positive development or businesses who contribute positively to the city
That car parking be taxed. Development contributions for car parking spaces be calculated separately to housing or offices, charged at a much higher rate and passed on to the purchaser of a car parking space not the people living or working there.
Car parking spaces should be paid for
The cost of residents parking permits should not cost less than the rent of a bedroom. Parking permits disabled drivers should not be affected and limited relief could be provided to those who drive for work or are elderly.
Road pricing
That road pricing be put in place to reflect the social cost of driving through the city.
Buildings of an urban rather than suburban character
That the city become a minimum 6 stories in the central areas and 3 stories city wide.