Cork County Council has today published the Draft Cork County Development Plan, 2021. The Draft Plan has been prepared having regard to the ambitious population and employment targets set out in the National Planning Framework(NPF), the Southern Region Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) and Government Policy and when finalised in April 2022 will be the first of three County Development Plans, that when taken together will set a clear pathway for County Cork to achieve its ambitious Project Ireland 2040 targets as set out in the NPF and RSES.
Image: Brian Lougheed
Submissions on the Draft Cork County Development Plan are now sought from today up to and including midnight on Thursday 1st July 2021.
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey stated:
This Draft Plan provides an ambitious and balanced vision for the future of the County up to 2028, planning for population growth of 61,000 and enabling the orderly delivery of 29,300 housing units and supporting commercial and social services. The population growth and necessary housing units will be delivered across the whole of County Cork, at appropriate locations in County Metropolitan Cork, the Ring and County Towns, Key Villages, Villages and Rural Areas so as to deliver sustainable growth in our rural and urban communities. Also, critically the Draft Plan sets out to deliver employment led growth by delivering 36,500 jobs in rural and urban areas; and in this context has identified over 2000ha of employment lands.
The Draft Plan places a strong emphasis on implementation and delivery through Active Land Management processes, placing a particular focus on housing delivery, and in this regard aims to provide certainty to the Government, State Agencies, key stakeholders and the communities of County Cork as to the optimum manner in which the Project Ireland 2040 targets will be achieved. The Draft Plan acknowledges the need to be flexible and adaptive in order to respond to and shape changing circumstances, with the following vision;
To provide for the development of County Cork as an attractive, competitive and sustainable place to live, visit and do business, where the quality of its economy, natural and built environment, culture and the strength and viability of its rural and urban communities are to the highest standards
The Draft Plan will consist of 7 Volumes as follows;
Volume One: Main Policy Material
Volume Two: Heritage and Amenity.
Volume Three: North Cork (Fermoy MD and Kanturk Mallow MD).
Volume Four: South Cork (Carrigaline MD, Cobh MD, East Cork MD and Macroom MD).
Volume Five: West Cork (Bandon Kinsale MD and West Cork MD).
Volume Six: Environmental Reports (SEA/HDA/SFRA)
Volume Seven: Maps
It is intended that the new Cork County Development Plan 2022 will be the first consolidated plan for the entire functional area of Cork County Council and relates to the new administrative boundary of the county, following the implementation of the new Local Government arrangements in Cork in May 2019.
When finally adopted in April 2022, this plan will replace the current Cork County Development Plan, 2014, 8 Municipal District Local Area Plans, 2017 and the 9 former Town Council Town Development Plans to provide all planning policy and strategy in one statutory plan.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley welcomed todays publication, highlighting how:
The Draft Plan has been prepared following an intensive process that included 46 formal meetings between the Elected Members of Council and the Executive, in addition to a public consultation process seeking views on strategic matters at the Pre-Draft stage. This publication is an opportunity for individuals and groups across the County to consider the contents of the Draft Plan and I would strongly encourage people to get involved and have their say in the future development of County Cork.
Full details of the Draft Plan and how to “Have Your Say” are available at https://www.corkcoco.ie/en/cork-county-development-plan-2022-2028
Help support Cork Safety Alerts by becoming a member – Click Here