Cork community calls for North Docks plans to be broadened

A Lower Glanmire Road community group have called for the broadening of plans for the North Docks to include their area, describing it as a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.

Public consultation closed last week on the scheme, which consists of the realignment of the N8 national road between Lower Glanmire Road and Alfred Street to a new alignment closer to the rear of Kent Station, removing traffic from Horgan’s Quay.

Plans also include the demolition of a single-storey dockside shed (Dowdall Building) and the creation of a new promenade and two parks.

Green party councillor Oliver Moran explained that the plans are part of the transformation of the North Docks that's already underway, with offices built and over 300 apartments under construction.

He said: “Realigning the road along the quays into what's now the footprint of the railway yard will allow for waterfront housing. There will be space opened up for green areas and small parks.

"The main concerns I've heard in relation to the plan are that residents on the Lower Glanmire Road don't want their area to be in second place to the redevelopment. I'll be speaking to engineers about what can be done to draw the whole area into public realm improvements that can go together.” 

A submission made by Eilish Corcoran on behalf of the Lower Glanmire Road Residents Association states that they welcome the plan and feel that a lane going east out of town on Horgan's Quay would be very beneficial.

Ms Corcoran said: “Presently, we have a problem with speeding and large traffic volumes. 

"A lane taking traffic out of the city and diverting from a section of the road, along with improved public transport, would transform our road and community.” 

They suggested that the site of McMahon's Builders' Providers, that stretches from Water Street down the Lower Glanmire Road, be included in the plan, including the former Harbour Commissioners site, saying: “This is a beautiful old stone building with an old wharf on the riverside. The smaller building would make an ideal community resource, as we have none on the road.”