‘Kick in the teeth’: Protest planned over delays to Cork city regeneration project 

Concerns have been raised about a delay in the delivery of homes as part of a phased housing regeneration project on Cork city’s northside.

Twenty-four homes are to be delivered at Kilmore Rd in Knocknaheeny under Phase 2C of the Cork City Northwest Quarter Regeneration (CNWQR) Masterplan, the regeneration project which began in the Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill area almost a decade ago.

These 24 houses were to be located along Kilmore Road Lower at the northern boundary of the regeneration area. Construction began in Q4 2019, but according to Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould, construction was later halted and some units remain unfinished, while the interiors of others remain incomplete.

Sinn Féin representatives in Cork city announced yesterday that they will be holding a protest at the site on January 20, at 12pm.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Gould described the delays as “a kick in the teeth to the people of Knocknaheeny”.

“We have waited over 23 years for regeneration, and we are now forced to stare at half-built homes with no construction taking place,” he said.

“This is a disgrace, and Cork City Council now must progress this site. I am concerned at both the cost and the delays this has caused. The reality is that the council has had to use other new-build social housing to continue the regeneration. The length of our social housing waiting list here in Cork city does not allow for these kinds of delays. 

"People need homes, and there is no excuse for leaving a site half-built for months if not years. 

People in Knocknaheeny are positive about the regeneration, they know it needs to happen, but they do not accept these neverending delays.”

Cork City Council has been contacted for comment, while a city council spokesperson said last year: “Cork City Council continues to work with the appointed contractor with a view to the earliest possible delivery of more quality homes at this location.”