Cork Business Association has a clear vision for a 'safer and busier' city

A Cork city centre with more people living in apartments and above-the-shop accommodation would be livelier at night and ensure safer streets, the Cork Business Association (CBA) president has said.

Dave O’Brien was speaking to The Echo after Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said that people living over shops or restaurants and bars on Patrick Street are essential to stop it being “a lonely place” at night.

Mr O’Brien said the CBA’s vision was to see more city-centre living, so that Cork could be more like cities on mainland Europe, where city-centre inhabitants enjoy a vibrant urban night life.

“We feel the city is safe; it has its problems, like every other city in Europe and the world,” said Mr O’Brien. 

“At the same time, there’s a lot going on in the city centre, and a lot of work being done to improve it.

“We need to prioritise housing and apartments and getting over-the-shop schemes in place to allow people to live there. The more people you get in there, the less trouble or hassle — or perceived hassle — that goes on.”

Welcoming

Mr O’Brien said that suburban developments were needed to meet Cork housing demand, while city-centre living was required to make it more welcoming.

“Whether that’s the city council’s area to improve or the Government’s, I’m not so sure; probably a bit of both,” he said.

Mr O’Brien suggested that a mix of less-restrictive planning regulations, coupled with further incentives from the Government, was required to realise the vision of more over-the-shop living in the city centre.

“The vacancy levels are always an issue. What we’re trying to make sure of is if places do become vacant, then it’s looked at whether there needs to be a change of planning use for that premises.

“So, if a shop closes down, is it possible for something else to go in there, hospitality or housing, and to make that an easy process?”

Passive surveillance 

Mr O’Brien’s comments come as Green Party city councillor Oliver Moran recently asked the council to report on policy to enhance passive surveillance in the city centre, particularly Patrick Street, through over-the-shop accommodation and night-time economy measures such as cafes, restaurants, and bars.

Mr Moran said he hoped initiatives such as the recent night-time economy Coffee House Lates pilot scheme would encourage businesses to open late more regularly, “thus enhancing the vibrancy of the city centre”.

However, Mr Moran said at last week’s council meeting that the initiative, while welcome, will not impact Patrick Street, as it is zoned primarily for retail.

He told The Echo that the city’s development plan sets out to protect the retail feel of Patrick St by not allowing other uses to move in there.

“From one perspective, that’s a good thing, because it protects the character of the street and ensures that it remains the core retail area,” he said.

“At times, though, it means the street shuts down. That creates a large space in the city centre that doesn’t benefit from the kind of passive surveillance that comes with businesses staying open. The taxi rank and the bus stops provide some of these, but it can be a lonely place to have to wait late at night.”

Development Plan 

The Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 designates Patrick Street and Opera Lane as primary retail frontages.

However, it does say the council would consider allowing some complementary restaurant and cafe uses at certain corner sites along the south-facing section of Patrick Street “to allow for a greater mix of use and vibrancy to enhance its primary retail function”.

Mr Moran said that having people living on the street would also prevent it from being so empty after shops shut.

“One option that’s in the plan already is to encourage other uses, like over-the-shop living on upper floors to improve footfall and activity in the evening time,” he said.

“That’s proving slow going, but the city is planning to have a sort of proof of concept that shows property owners what can be done, and the supports that are there.”

The council told Mr Moran it is promoting living over the shop, and recently published a notice on e-tenders seeking interested parties to deliver a demonstrator living-over-the-shop proposal for city-centre housing.