Councillors differ on infrastructure plans for Cork's 'Mahon Point 2.0'

The outgoing Lord Mayor, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, has said public transport must be given priority amidst concerns that a proposed €200m expansion at Mahon Point will see increased traffic in an area already prone to congestion.

The proposed development, which would create 1,900 jobs, was announced yesterday, with a planning application from Deka Immobilien, Mahon Point’s owner, likely to be imminent.

The project, named Mahon Point 2.0, will bring 251 new homes, enhanced civic amenities and social spaces, integrated transport infrastructure, and new retail and office offerings to the area, on what was a brownfield site.

The project will be delivered on a phased basis and is expected to create 1,560 new permanent jobs, alongside 365 jobs during construction.

City councillors from the south-east ward said they were looking forward to seeing the detail of the plans when they meet with developers today, and the Lord Mayor, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle - whose term concludes this evening - said he was happy to see any development which would increase the city’s capacity for housing.

“What I would like to see is the type of development that adds to the sense of community in that part of the city and offers people real choice in both housing tenure and housing type,” he said.

Mr Boyle added that he was hopeful that any development would favour public transport.

“There has to be a transport plan in relation to any planning application for housing across the city, and I think that bias should always be for public transport,” he said.

However, Fianna Fáil councillor Terry Shannon, who represents the south-east ward, said that while the development was a clear vote of confidence in the area, he believed public transport would never be suitable for everyone in every circumstance.

“Some people will tell you get more buses, but that’s really not the answer because people don’t go shopping on the bus,” he said.

“I’ll wait and see the development plan, but whatever development plan it is, traffic will clearly be an issue, and I believe an additional exit or entrance will be required onto the Link Road, probably someplace before the tunnel, so that people can go back into town or go off east or west or north.

“Certainly the present traffic arrangements, with this new development, won’t suffice.” Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill, who also represents the south-east ward, said he could not see such an additional exit or entrance being allowed.

“We’ve been asking for an exit onto the Link Road since Cú Chulainn was a boy and the NTA (National Transport Authority) keeps telling us they won’t allow it,” Mr Cahill said.

“We’ve been flat-out refused by the NTA any time we’ve asked for that, an exit would clear a lot, but their logic is that would be too close to the tunnel.” Mr Cahill added that he too was looking forward to discussing the plans with the developers.

Justin Young, director at Mahon Point Shopping Centre, said that for the last 20 years, the shopping centre had been the heart and meeting place for Mahon’s community and the wider region.

“We are excited to present Mahon Point 2.0, a demand-led expansion that enhances Mahon for everyone and looks forward to the next 20 years,” he said.

“By placing homes, sustainable transport, and civic amenities at the core of this vision, we hope to create a new chapter in Cork’s growth that reflects community values as much as economic ambition.” 

Savills Ireland has been involved in the property management of Mahon Point for the past 20 years, and its director, Peter O’Meara noted that Cork was emerging as an international centre of scale, with a projected population growth of 50-60 per cent by 2040.

“With strong demand across residential and retail sectors, this development answers the call for high-quality, integrated spaces that serve both current and future generations,” he said.

The brainchild of the late property developer Owen O’Callaghan, Mahon Point, then styled ‘MahonPoint’, opened in February 2005.

The €203m shopping centre was just one part of the original €500m development, Mr O’Callaghan noted at time, with plans for a retail park, office space and a four-star 200-bedroom hotel. Those plans for a hotel were abandoned, its place eventually taken by further office space.

Deka Immobilien bought the 60-unit shopping centre with cinema and restaurants from Mr O’Callaghan in 2005.

When Mahon 2.0 is fully developed, it will have a value of close to €500m, Mr O’Meara said.

The proposed Mahon Point 2.0 development includes:

251 apartments, thoughtfully designed for a range of household sizes, with access to open space, play areas, and recreational amenities.

A purpose-built crèche supporting 64 child spaces.

A new market square and civic plaza to host the Mahon Point Farmers Market, public events and community activities.

13,000 sqm new demand-led retail space.

A new office block offering over 70,000 sq ft of workspace.

Multi-storey car park with 704 spaces.