Economic Study
The National Spatial Strategy (N.S.S.) and Cork Area Strategic Plan (C.A.S.P.) highlighted the vital role of Cork City as the engine of growth for the wider region and stressed that the City’s economic, social and cultural regeneration was crucial to the future success of the whole area. In this respect, Docklands was identified as having a critical role in the revitalisation of the City and providing the location for many of the new uses, activities, and facilities that will be central to the regeneration process. As a result, the Cork Docklands Development Strategy, 2001 was prepared which envisaged an extensive range of uses, supported by total infrastructure costs approaching €450 million and private sector development costs in excess of €2 billion.
In order to ensure that the redevelopment of Docklands is under-pinned by economic realities, the Docklands Directorate appointed consultants D.T.Z. Pieda in association with Sherry Fitzgerald in March 2006 to undertake an Economic Scope Study of the area which could be used to:
- build the economic case to underpin the re-development of Docklands;
- highlight the commercial opportunity for potential private investors and developers; and
- demonstrate the economic importance of the Docklands Development to public sector investors and Government.
The Study also provided guidance to the Consultants undertaking the preparation of the South Docks Local Area Plan in terms of the likely uses in the Docklands by the translation of top-line economic sectoral analysis into appropriate land uses. The Study therefore allowed for more accurate land use zoning to match development needs and give realism and direction to the L.A.P. in terms of the floor space and locational requirements for uses over the next 5 to 10 years.
The Draft Docklands Economic Study was completed in June 2006 and, following a period of public consultation, it was approved by the City Council on December 11th 2006. The report and its appendices (A to F) are available for downloading in pdf format via the links below. The preparation of a detailed Business Plan and a Marketing Plan are important next steps in this overall Docklands redevelopment process.
