Cork City Council and Land Development Agency partner to unlock the potential of Cork City Docklands

Project of international significance will transform Cork’s urban area

Cork, 09 November 2020: Cork City Council and The Land Development Agency confirm the establishment of a new Delivery Office for Cork City Docklands. The Cork Docklands Delivery Office will lead the development of thousands of homes and the creation of a new urban centre for international investment into Cork City. The partnership will seek to promote a regeneration project of international scale and significance in Cork City.

Cork City Docklands is Ireland’s largest regeneration project. Over 146ha of land will be developed over a period of 20 years. This will accommodate a population of c.25,000 and a workforce of c.29,000 along with a student population of c.3,700.

The Cork Docklands Delivery Office will be funded by the LDA and Cork City Council. The project partners are seeking substantial funding from Government under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). The Delivery Office will work to unlock the regeneration of the Cork City Docklands. It will be tasked with creating partnerships and removing obstacles to development. It will co-ordinate stakeholder engagement and consultation.

It is intended that the Delivery Office build an internationally recognised brand for the Cork City Docklands. This brand will act as a magnet for major inward investment projects, similar to the IFSC in Dublin, and across Europe, such as Hammarby in Stockholm, Aarhaus in Denmark, and HafenCity in Germany.

Among the projects which are being examined by the partnership are developments at Marina Park, further embracing the River Lee as an amenity, and the improvement of transport with the development of a transport hub at Kent Station, and a priority given to sustainable and active transport along with a mix of amenity and transport infrastructure. The developments will include homes, schools, medical and social services, sports and recreation facilities, office space, pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels retail and two new bridges for the city. Sustainable development and access to public transport links will be at the heart of the project.

The Delivery Office will be guided by a steering group led by the CEO of Cork City Council and the CEO of the LDA and will involve a range of State Bodies and local stakeholders.

The LDA and Cork City Council will begin the search for a Programme Manager immediately, to lead the Cork Docklands Delivery Office.

The Docklands area is already seeing extensive development. 82,475 sqm of office development is in construction or completed with over 12,000 sqm in the planning process. Over 1,600 residential units are currently in the planning process in the area. 136 hotel rooms are constructed or in construction with 265 rooms seeking planning.

In the first twelve months of operation, it is intended that the new Docklands Delivery Office will review all existing plans, meet key landowners and stakeholders and develop a deliverable but ambitious five- year strategy for the Docklands. The plan will also identify early deliverables to build momentum.

Cllr. Joe Kavanagh, Lord Mayor of Cork, said:

“This is a major step forward in unlocking the potential of Cork City Docklands. This new partnership and Delivery Office, which will be fully resourced, will build momentum and bolster the environment in which development can take place. Cork City Docklands will be a nationally and internationally renowned project.

Cork City is poised to be a key driver of Ireland’s economic growth to 2040. In the National Planning Framework, the Government set a range of targets for Cork to ensure that it can deliver this ambition. The population of Cork City is targeted to grow by 50% by 2040. This will strengthen Cork as a city of scale, whose citizens can enjoy the benefit of significant economic expansion.”

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, said:

“The redevelopment of the Cork City Docklands will be a project of international significance. This Delivery Office offers an opportunity to a create a magnet for investment into Cork City. It will further establish Cork’s position as a major city and the initiative underlines this Government’s commitment to balanced regional development. The establishment of strong regional cities is a key aim of the National Planning Framework and will help create opportunities for people across the island.

By creating this new office, I am confident that Cork City Council and the Land Development Agency will bring many partners together for the benefit of the city. The scale of ambition which is being shown will drive investment and leverage new opportunities for Cork.”

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, said:

“The establishment of this new Delivery Office is an important enabler for the regeneration of Cork’s Docklands. The partnership between the Land Development Agency and Cork City Council is an exemplar of how the LDA and Local Authorities can deliver projects which will make a real difference to our cities and our people. This project will deliver much needed affordable accommodation in Cork City in addition to office accommodation and other services.”

Ann Doherty, CE, Cork City Council, said:

“Cork Docklands represents the most exciting urban regeneration site in Ireland and Europe and is a key component of the development strategy for Cork City. Today’s announcement is another milestone in our vision to develop Cork City Docklands as one of the best places in Europe to live and work. Cork City Council and the Land Development Agency will work in partnership with Government Departments, State Agencies, local representative organisations and community and voluntary groups to achieve the exciting development objectives for Cork Docklands.”

LDA CEO, John Coleman said:

“The Land Development Agency’s mission is to work with Local Authorities and others to facilitate the development of housing and urban regeneration projects. Across the country, we are working with Local Authorities to unlock the potential of state-owned lands and other strategic sites to increase the supply of affordable housing in Ireland.

We are confident that the team which will be put in place will write a new chapter in the history of this city. It is rare to have such an opportunity in a modern city to create an attractive live-work proposition on this scale. The initiative is a major demonstration of the LDA’s commitment to advancing the scale and development of Cork in collaboration with our valued partners at Cork City Council.”