Upgrading Cork: Projects that made an impact

Public realm

One big project was the opening of the Marina Promenade, after a project which cost around €7.5m.

The council opened the extended area of Marina Park to include the tree walkway and restored Barrington’s folly, and in December opened the final area of Marina Park — the revamped area around Atlantic Pond, with around €14.5m spent to date on the park.

The council also opened a new pedestrian and cycle bridge from Lambley’s Lane off South Main St, over the southern channel of the river Lee to Wandesford Quay.

This, and the other bridge where work is ongoing, represent an investment of about €8.5m. Funding for the bridges came from the government’s urban regeneration and development fund and the National Transport Authority (NTA).

In November, the council opened the revamped Bishop Lucey Park, an investment of around €7m to date. A substantial amount of funding for this also came from the fund.

Works are ongoing on public realm improvements to South Main St and Tuckey St, and along French’s Quay and Proby’s Quay, representing an investment of around €10m.

Roads and active travel

A vast new network of bike lanes opened in Mahon, alongside investment in roads, footpaths, and streetscape — creating a real 15-minute suburb. It represents an investment of about €15m, provided by the NTA.

The work includes 5km of new streetscape including wider footpaths, seating, public realm and upgraded public lighting; 12 new bus stops with bus shelters; 8km of safe cycle infrastructure, including segregated cycle tracks, greenways, and cycle parking; upgrades to six existing pedestrian crossings and two new crossings providing access to new 1km quiet-way; enhanced public open spaces with extensive landscaping including trees, shrubs, and plants to enhance biodiversity; and new signalised junctions with safe crossing facilities for vulnerable road users.

Work started on Lehanaghmore Rd improvement scheme to deliver safer roads, new footpaths, upgraded cycle lanes, and better public transport links. The project, expected to take up to 18 months to complete, represents a €17m investment.

The preferred route for the proposed northern distributor road — a 14km multi-modal route that will run from Carrigrohane to Glanmire — was announced, with the project now moving to design phase. The National Development Plan review announced in late November puts the cost of the road between €200m and €500m.

There are also projects awaiting tender, which will see further tens of millions invested. Plans to transform Horgan’s Quay into a pedestrian friendly space, with new parks, promenade, and bike lanes were unveiled by Cork City Council this year for public consultation, and approved by council in October.

Additionally, the council published regeneration plans for the Douglas St and Mary St area earlier this year, designed to transform this historic city centre area into a more vibrant, accessible, and people-focused space. Plans were approved by council in October.

Cork City Council is also working on road improvements in Ballyvolane, around €11m, and on the Knockpogue and Knockfree Ave roads, around €2.5m.

Public realm upgrades combined with flood defence works continue on Morisson’s Island, and flood protection works in Glanmire, an Office of Public Works project, are ongoing.

Work has started on the new Glanmire greenway, which will connect Hazelwood to Dunkettle Rd. The works include the installation of two pedestrian and cycle bridges. This phase represents an investment of about €5m.

Work is about to start on the Monahan Rd extension project, which will see around €8m invested. Work is also due to start soon on the docklands to city centre road improvement scheme, from Albert Quay to Centre Park Rd, an estimated €17m project.

Housing

About 3,500 homes are currently under construction in Cork either directly by Cork City Council or in collaboration with the Land Development Agency and approved housing bodies — representing an investment of well in excess of €1bn.

The council have delivered just over 400 affordable homes for the people of Cork, highlighting a commitment to delivering high quality housing in Cork city to meet housing demand.

Ten schemes have been delivered citywide in estates like Danesfort in Whites Cross, Heathfield in Ballincollig, Seaberry in Grange, and Kileens, with more projects such as Glenmore Heights in Lehenaghmore nearing completion.

More schemes are on the way in 2026/2027, such as a 155-house scheme in Lehenaghmore, with 88 affordable homes and the balance social homes, 48 homes at Glenbride on the Old Mallow Rd, with more schemes to be announced.

Cork City Council had a target this year to build 592 new social homes and this target will be achieved, the council say.

Working with partners like Cluid, Respond, and Tuath, they have delivered several cost rental schemes, including 51 at Newton Heights, Lotamore in Mayfield.

In terms of regeneration, 28 units in Errigal View in The Glen was completed in June on a site that had been vacant since 2010, after the old flats were demolished.

Further projects are in the pipeline for 2026 including 147 apartments at Anglesea Terrace, featuring a mix of 72 one-bedroom and 75 two-bedroom cost rental and social apartments; 217 new homes in the city’s docklands at Railyard Apartments on Albert Quay, including 118 cost rental, 77 social/affordable, and 22 age-friendly units; 300 cost rental apartments set to be completed overlooking the River Lee at Horgan’s Quay; 606 new homes at the Creamfields site on the Kinsale Rd, with 225 social and 381 cost-rental apartments; and 330 apartments at the former Ford Depot site in the south docklands.

Event Centre

In September 2025, after a decision by Government that the long-awaited event centre project would have to be re-tendered, interested developers, operators, and promoters were invited to express interest via the eTenders platform — with the intent that one-to-one bilateral discussions would follow.

This new procurement process is being overseen by global project management experts, Aecom, which has an office in Cork, and which has vast experience globally in developing event and conference centres, especially in the US.

Aecom has been engaged to oversee the entire project, from procurement through to planning, development, and delivery, and is providing expertise on cost management, procurement, the development of a business case, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.

The process to assess the expressions of interest is currently ongoing, and this phase of the process is confidential, the council said.

Work is continuing on the preparation of a preliminary business case which, once approved, will enable the project to go back out to tender.

It is expected that the pre-qualification tender process will be ready to begin early in the new year.

Chief executive optimistic

Valerie O’Sullivan, the chief executive of Cork City Council, told The Echo: “In 2026, we will build on the momentum that has begun in the city centre, focused on decluttering, presentation, streetscapes, and bringing projects forward for renewal and regeneration.

“We will drive catalyst projects, like the event centre and a new city library headquarters, toward delivery.

“We will sustain and build on our excellent track record of housing delivery — 3,500 units are underway or delivered, representing an investment of €1.2bn — for all those who need homes and to the Cork economy. But we will also focus on creating the conditions, including a seamless planning process, to deliver housing in the private rental and private ownership areas.

“We will drive on with our ambitious regeneration plans for the Docklands, the Albert Quay public realm enhancement scheme and the transformative Horgan’s Quay project.

“We will also keep the Cork Luas, Cork BusConnects, and the Cork commuter rail programmes high on the national agenda.

“I want to empower the city council’s local area offices and the communities they serve to get things delivered and improved, one process and project at a time, by giving them greater autonomy.

“I will also strive to win more focus and funding for Cork — because when Cork succeeds, Ireland succeeds.”