JSA Planning strengthens Cork presence as region prepares for next phase of growth
JSA Planning expanding its presence in Cork: Marnie Lee, graduate planner, Conor Healy, senior associate director, and Paul Turley, managing director.
One of Ireland's leading planning consultancies, JSA Planning, is expanding its presence in Cork and Munster, combining extensive national experience with a growing local-based team to support development across the region.
JSA Planning has built a reputation as a trusted planning and development adviser on some of Ireland's most significant residential, commercial, mixed-use and infrastructure developments. Its portfolio includes landmark projects such as Bolands Mills, the 3Arena and Clay Farm, alongside the Irish Maritime and Energy Research Cluster (IMERC) in Cork.
JSA is also actively involved in the redevelopment of Mahon Point Shopping Centre, providing planning compliance services and supporting amended planning applications. The team has also worked on a range of biogas and solar farm projects, including several across the Munster region.
Working with leading developers, investors and public bodies, including the Land Development Agency, Cairn, Glenveagh Homes, Park Developments, D/RES and Aldi, the consultancy brings extensive industry knowledge and experience in navigating Ireland's planning environment and delivering complex projects.
With an established Dublin office and a team of approximately 30 planners, JSA is now investing in its Cork operations, based at Republic of Work on South Mall, recognising the significant opportunities emerging across Cork and the wider Munster region.
For JSA's managing director, Paul Turley, who has been with JSA for 20 years, the expansion is a natural progression for a business that has continued to grow alongside Ireland's development sector.
"Cork and Munster represent a significant opportunity for JSA. There is substantial investment planned across housing, infrastructure, transport and renewable energy, all of which will play an important role in supporting the region's future growth.
"We have built considerable experience delivering complex planning projects across Ireland. Our focus now is on bringing that expertise to Cork, investing in a locally based team and developing long-term relationships with clients and industry partners across the region."
Leading JSA's expansion across Cork and Munster is Conor Healy, Senior Associate Director, who brings 15 years of planning experience across Ireland and the UK.
With established professional relationships in the region and a strong understanding of the local planning environment, Conor is focused on developing JSA's Cork-based team and building a long-term presence in the Munster market.
For Conor, the opportunity is to combine JSA's national experience with the local knowledge and relationships essential to successful development:
"Cork has its own development priorities, opportunities and challenges. Understanding the local planning environment and building strong relationships with the people working across the sector is fundamental to establishing ourselves here.
"Since January, I've been meeting with architects, engineers, developers and other professionals across Cork. The region has a strong network of expertise, and we see real value in working collaboratively with those already contributing to its growth.
"Our ambition is to build a strong Cork-based planning team that can support clients locally, backed by the experience and resources of our wider national practice. We are committed to growing that team as the business develops."
Cork is entering an important period of development, with investment in housing, transport infrastructure and urban regeneration expected to influence how the city and wider region grow over the coming years.
Major initiatives, including the proposed Luas Cork light rail system, the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme and the continued regeneration of the Docklands, have the potential to unlock significant development opportunities.
For Conor, the relationship between infrastructure investment, land use and long-term planning will be central to realising that potential.
"Transport infrastructure has a significant influence on where and how development takes place. The proposed light rail system and improvements to Cork's commuter rail network have the potential to support new residential and commercial development, improve connectivity and create opportunities across the metropolitan area.
"The Docklands and Quays are also important areas for Cork's future development. Delivering on that potential will require coordinated planning, infrastructure investment and a clear understanding of how individual developments contribute to the wider growth of the city."
JSA's experience extends beyond individual planning applications to strategic planning, land-use zoning, development plans and masterplanning, helping clients assess development opportunities and navigate the planning process from an early stage.
The consultancy also advises on environmental assessment, planning appeals and geospatial services, drawing on detailed knowledge of national, regional and local planning policy.
Alongside Cork's development opportunities, the Irish planning system is undergoing significant reform.
The Planning and Development Act 2024 introduces substantial changes to how development is planned and managed, including a move towards 10-year development plans, with interim reviews after five years.
For Paul, these changes reinforce the importance of specialist planning advice and a thorough understanding of the evolving legislative and policy environment.
"Planning is becoming increasingly complex, particularly for major developments where there is multiple policy, environmental and infrastructural considerations.
"The new legislation represents an important change in how local authorities plan for future growth. Understanding the implications for landowners, developers and public bodies will be essential as the new framework is implemented.
"Our role is to help clients navigate those changes, identify opportunities and develop robust planning strategies that support successful development."
With Cork City, Cork County and other local authorities preparing for the next generation of development plans, JSA sees an important role for experienced planning consultants in helping clients understand the opportunities and implications of the evolving planning framework.
JSA's expansion is also supported by its position within ORS Group, one of Ireland's leading multidisciplinary consultancies for the built environment.
The Group brings together specialist businesses and expertise across planning, engineering, environmental consultancy, project management, fire safety, building surveying and other technical disciplines, supporting clients across the full project lifecycle.
For JSA, being part of ORS Group complements its established planning expertise, providing access to additional technical capabilities and opportunities for collaboration on increasingly complex developments.
"JSA has built its reputation on the strength of our planning expertise and the relationships we have developed with clients over many years," says Paul.
"Being part of ORS Group allows us to build on those strengths. We can draw on expertise across a range of complementary disciplines, bringing together the right specialists depending on the requirements of each project.
"That is particularly valuable on major developments where planning, engineering, environmental and infrastructure considerations are closely connected."
The Group's combined expertise is already supporting work across renewable energy, including solar and biogas projects nationally and in Munster; an area JSA expects to become an increasingly important part of its business.
Looking ahead, JSA sees significant opportunities across residential development, infrastructure and renewable energy, supported by continued investment and the evolving needs of the region.
The immediate priority, however, is to establish and grow its Cork-based team, build relationships with clients and industry partners, and contribute its experience to development across Cork and Munster.
"We see Cork as an important part of JSA's future," says Conor.
"We have the benefit of an established national practice, extensive industry experience and the wider capabilities of ORS Group. Our focus is on combining those strengths with local knowledge and relationships to build a successful, long-term presence in the region."
For JSA Planning, the Cork expansion represents an opportunity to contribute to the next phase of development in one of Ireland's most important regional economies, bringing established planning expertise together with a clear commitment to the local market.
