Cork Airport submits planning for almost 670 new parking spaces

An application to extend the long-term car park at Cork Airport has been submitted to Cork City Council, seeking to add almost 670 new parking spaces.

The application is seeking to develop an extension to the Holiday Blue long-term car park south of the existing lot.

The extension will provide for an additional 669 long-term car parking spaces, 32 for people with reduced mobility.

The development will also see the erection of CCTV equipment, fencing, electrical enclosure, lighting, and signage; the construction of a new internal road layout, with footpaths; a new gated pedestrian access way; a proposed maintenance access gate; and trolley bays.

Works at the facility will include the removal of existing fencing, existing landscaping, an existing gated pedestrian access from Cork Airport Business Park, and an informal pathway.

Communications manager at Cork Airport, Barry Holland, said that the application comes as part of a suite of planned improvement works at the facility.

“This extension, subject to planning permission, forms part of the €200m Capital Development Plan announced by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD earlier this month,” said Mr Holland.

“The Capital Development Plan charts the course for the airport’s growth and expansion to cater for up to, and beyond, 5m passengers in the years ahead.

“At present, there are just over 4,300 car parking spaces [available] across all three of our car parks.

“The existing Holiday Blue car park will also be the site of a new 1.7Mw solar farm, which will generate up to 20% of the airport’s electricity needs,” he added.

“The solar panels in the new farm will be mounted on steel frames, which will act as a canopy over parked vehicles.

“We’re also engaging frequently with a number of public transport companies to add bus services to and from Cork Airport. We’re keenly aware of the demand that exists for more public transport connectivity to and from the airport.”

Cork City Council is due to make a decision on the application, which is at the pre-validation stage, by July 17.