Changes made to Cork City Development plan following lengthy debate about a proposed Luas bridge

Changes to the Cork City Development Plan allowing for the development of the docklands have been approved by council, after a lengthy debate about a proposed bridge for the Cork Luas.

662 submissions were made by the public in response to the new sections of the development plan, which detail plans for new infrastructure and zoning changes.

A council report noted that more than 500 people attended information events during the consultation period from 30 April to 28 May, and “engagement with the public was overwhelmingly positive”.

There were more than 400 supportive submissions, with around 100 objections to proposals for bridges and the potential impact on maritime activity submitted - 15% of people who contributed shared concerns around Kent Station Bridge and maritime access.

Councillor Des Cahill tabled an amendment proposing references to the proposed rail bridge were removed, pointing out that a docklands committee could be set up even if the plans weren’t agreed to, and that the Cork Luas development could still go ahead.

The light rail, cyclist, and pedestrian bridge he raised concerns about is set to be the first of three new bridges developed, and will connect the south quays with Kent Station.

“To me the bridge should be the last port of call, not the first – this amendment will allow us to investigate the other routes that may work,” Mr Cahill said.

Mr Cahill’s party colleague Shane O’Callaghan supported his amendment, saying “what’s the point in rushing into every aspect of it? Massive parts of the harbour will now no longer be able to be used.” He also expressed a concern that the bridge could become “a bridge to nowhere” if the Cork Luas plans don’t go ahead.

Fellow Fine Gael councillor Damian Boylan as well as Independent councillor Paudie Dineen also spoke in favour of the amendment.

Independent Ireland councillor Noel O’Flynn, who first proposed the regeneration of the Cork docklands in 1999, said that he “remained committed to the vision still”, and that the plans had been at discussion stage for long enough and needed to be progressed now.

Green party councillors Dan Boyle, Oliver Moran and Honore Kamegni, Fianna Fáil’s Terry Shannon, Seán Martin and Mary Rose Desmond, Labour’s Peter Horgan and John Maher; Independent Kieran McCarthy, Social Democrats Niamh O’Connor and Sinn Féin’s Joe Lynch, also spoke in favour of progressing the plans immediately, pointing out that the plans still leave space for the scope and type of the bridge to be examined.

Council director Niall Ó Donnabháin said that funding would be impacted if the amendment was passed, and explained that a full planning process of the bridge would occur.

The amendment was defeated in a vote, and the proposed variation was approved, with 28 votes in favour, and only Mr Cahill voting against it.