About Us
The Docklands Directorate was established by Cork City Council to implement the Cork Docklands Development Strategy which was prepared in 2001 and the planning framework developed within the North Docks Local Area Plan 2005 and the South Docks Local Area Plan 2008. Cork Docklands is an area of huge potential that will deliver a new urban quarter for the City. The development of Docklands is one of the core elements contained in the Cork Area Strategic Plan (C.A.S.P.) and in the Cork City Development Plan 2009 - 2015. The area’s redevelopment is also seen as a key factor in the growth of Metropolitan Cork.
Goal of Directorate
The goal of the Docklands Directorate is:
“to actively encourage, influence and facilitate the development of Cork Docklands as a new high density mixed-use urban quarter where people, knowledge and innovation will flourish, thereby supporting Cork’s ambition as a confident, competitive, friendly city of the 21st Century.”
In order to achieve the goal, the Docklands Directorate will work closely with other Directorates within the City Council and with external stakeholders.
Role of Directorate
The role of Cork City Council, with the Docklands Directorate as co-ordinator and instigator, is to show clear leadership in the promotion and development of Docklands. Docklands has a number of advantages: proximity to the city centre and to good quality residential areas, a superb physical setting and active existing business. The Docklands Development Strategy envisaged a sensitive transformation of the area into a high quality living, working and leisure urban environment.
A long-term vision for the effective revitalization and rebirth of Docklands was outlined within the Docklands Development Strategy, 2001 which was elaborated upon in the North and South Docks Local Area Plans. Docklands will be people and amenity centred with as many as 10,000 new homes with a population of some 23,000 persons. It will also be a highly attractive location for commercial uses with potential for some 25,000 jobs in such areas as offices, educational institutions, retail outlets as well as culture and leisure facilities.
This will be mostly provided by private sector initiatives. However, before these aspirations become a reality, a number of preparatory steps need to be taken. In particular, opportunities need to be identified, barriers need to be overcome and the necessary infrastructure must be put in place.
The Docklands Directorate will initially concentrate on bringing a degree of certainty to the situation so that all of the stakeholders involved can plan effectively. This website will be a primary conduit of information. It is designed to focus on putting hard information into the public domain as it becomes available so that informed decisions can be made by stakeholders in Docklands.
Docklands Policy Committee
As part of ongoing consultation with the Members of the City Council the Docklands Policy Committee was established in April 2006. The Terms of Reference of the Committee is as follows:
- To provide a link between the elected City Council and the Cork Docklands Project
- To advise the City Council on policies and plans to secure the development of Cork Docklands
- To monitor the implementation of the City Council’s policies and plans for the development of Cork Docklands
- To provide a conduit for securing political support at national level so that sufficient and appropriate resources are committed to the development of Cork Docklands
The Docklands Policy Committee is made up of the following:
- Cllr. John Kelleher - Chair;
- Cllr. Dara Murphy;
- Cllr. Terry Shannon;
- Cllr. Catherine Clancy;
- Cllr. Chris O'Leary,
- Cllr. Des Cahill;
- Cllr. Kenneth O'Flynn;
- Kevin Terry – Director of Services - Planning and Development;
- Ann Bogan – Senior Planner - Planning and Development;
- Joe Gavin - City Manager;
- Pat Ledwidge – Director of Services – Docklands;
- Seamus Coghlan – Senior Engineer – Docklands;
- Evelyn Mitchell – Senior Executive Planner – Docklands Directorate.
Progress To-date
In its various roles, Cork City Council, in leading the regeneration of the Docklands has taken the following initiatives:-
- Prepared the Cork Dockland’s Development Strategy.
- Prepared Local Area Plans for the North and South Docks.
- Used Compulsory Purchases powers to secure 26 acres of land for a public park.
- Successfully applied for planning permission to An Bord Pleanala for the design and C.P.O. of lands associated with the spine road network, the Eastern Gateway Bridge and the Water Street Bridge.
- Appointed Consultants to prepare a detailed design of the Public Realm areas in Docklands.
- Completed water supply studies, drainage studies, contaminated land studies and quay walls study.
- Established various Stakeholder Fora;.
- Prepared a comprehensive Economic Study.
- Made a successful bid to EU for state aid approval for S.M.E.’s to continue until 2013.
- Made submissions to Government for targeted incentives to support development in Docklands.
- Made submissions to Government for assistance under the Gateway Innovation Fund.
- Worked with the O.P.W. in determining measures to deal with flooding and global warming.