Council chief: Development of Cork city's medieval quarter will be 'transformative'

THE Chief Executive of Cork City Council has described the development of Cork city’s historic medieval quarter as the “heart of the most transformative and ambitious public realm project in the city”.

The ambitious €46m plan, financed under the Government's Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), was first unveiled in 2021.

Speaking at Cork Chamber’s Business Breakfast at Cork International Hotel this week, Chief Executive of Cork City Council Ann Doherty said: “This is going to see a huge transformation of Proby's Quay, Crosse’s Green, Tuckey Street, Sullivan’s Quay and South Main Street.

“This isn’t just a dream anymore. This project is at tender and due to commence early next year.

“Part of this also is the development of Bishop Lucey Park which you will see close to the public before Christmas with the enabling works started and the project starting, opening up that park to be a permeable space between the South Main Street and the city centre so bringing that connectivity and that place where people can come together.” Sharing updates on other projects currently at tender and under construction across the city, she said Cork has “a huge role to play as a counterbalance to Dublin” and as an important second city.

She described the MacCurtain Street Public Transport Improvement Scheme, which she said is due to be completed in early December, as “a real big public realm project” that will improve travel time by the movement of buses around the city centre and will also improve walking, cycling and permeability.

MARINA

Speaking about the development of the Marina, she said construction will commence on Phase 2 of the Marina Park in Q4 and that the Marina Promenade will also go into construction towards the end of this year.

Ms Doherty also acknowledged the importance of the Cork Docklands, describing the project as “game-changing” for the city.

“We have the biggest regeneration site, I would say in the world, but definitely in Ireland, probably in Europe, with the Cork Docklands,” she said.

“Something that’s been in the pipeline for years but it’s no longer just a dream. When you get out of the train in the morning you can see premises where 6,000 people are working, 25% of the target employment for the Cork Docklands, both north and south.” 

The development of the Docklands is projected to provide homes for 20,000 residents, 25,000 jobs, new schools, and a €1.5bn private sector investment.

“We will continue to work with all of the stakeholders to make this happen, but this is a real model of the future of how we could live in terms of a 15-minute city, walking, cycling, and how we get about,” Ms Doherty said.

“We work very closely with the Land Development Agency (LDA), we have a Docklands delivery office in partnership with the LDA, and I think this is just going to be game-changing.”