Cork homes risk being delayed due to poor infrastructure, say builders

The Irish Home Builders Association has called for the urgent delivery of several infrastructure projects in Cork in order to unlock housing supply in the region.

The organisation is calling on Cork City Council to commit to a timeline for the delivery of a number of critical infrastructure projects because, it said, delays could “undermine the region’s housing potential”.

Joanne Treacy, who is the director of southern regional services for the Construction Industry Federation, said that both Cork city and county councils are required to deliver more than 6,500 new homes per year by 2034.

“Under the revised National Planning Framework, Cork City Council is required to deliver 2,706 new houses per annum to 2034, and Cork County Council, 3,837 houses,” said Ms Treacy.

“This level of housing delivery must be matched by infrastructure delivery. Cork has the ambition and the demand for housing, but without transport and utilities, these homes risk being delayed,” Ms Treacy added.

The association highlighted a number of major infrastructure projects that are in need of a clear delivery timeline.

These include the 18km Cork Luas light rail from Ballincollig to Mahon Point, which has the capacity to serve 20,000 homes; the Midleton rail twin tracking project, a €29.5m upgrade to triple the service frequency and support growth in East Cork, completion of which is expected in 2026; and the Cork city northern transport project, a long-awaited transport corridor to serve the 2,000-plus homes planned for Cork’s northside, with completion expected in the 2040s.

The organisation additionally highlighted the N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton and R626 upgrade scheme, as the road is “not fit for purpose”, posing safety risks due to old junction designs; and lagging utility connections, as builders in Cork continue to face delays securing ESB and Uisce Éireann connections, undermining housing progress and planning approvals.

Stressing the need for greater zoning of land by local authorities, Ms Treacy said that it is “vital that local authorities immediately vary their development plans to zone more lands that can be serviced with utilities for housing delivery”.

“Lands that are serviceable and not zoned must be brought forward immediately so that the supply of housing can increase and reach the levels needed,” 

Ms Treacy added.

“If more lands are not zoned and infrastructure is not provided at the scale required, the supply of housing will decrease significantly from 2027 onwards,” she said.

The head of the Cork Business Association’s 2030 committee, Clara O’Neill, said that the organisation “strongly echoes and supports the call for the urgent and timely delivery of critical infrastructure projects across Cork city and county”.

“The acceleration of key projects like the Midleton rail twin tracking, the Cork northern distributor multi-modal route, and the M28 motorway is not just desirable but absolutely vital for our region’s future,” said Ms O’Neill.

“Perhaps most important is the Cork Luas light rail system, a cornerstone of the CMATS [Cork Metropolitan Area transport strategy], which aims to fundamentally alter regional mobility by connecting major residential areas, employment centres, and educational institutions.

“It will facilitate a more integrated labour market and enable the higher-density housing development essential for sustainable growth.

“This is urgently needed. These projects are the essential arteries that will support the heart of Cork’s economic and social development,” Ms Treacy added.

“We need national Government to address the lengthy development cycles caused by protracted procurement processes and the constant threat of judicial reviews.

“Cork is a region of immense potential, but to fully realise our status as a strategic trade gateway and a competitive European city, we require decisive action.”

The Irish Home Builders Association will host its annual Cork housing workshop today at the Construction Industry Federation offices in Little Island from 12.30pm to 2pm.

The workshop will bring housebuilders, property developers, policymakers, and local utility providers together to examine how the delivery of homes can be accelerated in Cork.