Development plan · Cork County Council
Cork County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume One: Main Policy Material
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards. Variations adopted since are not in this text.
Cork County Council · 2022–2028 · 564 pages
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- 41 2.11 Phasing and Residential Reserve Phasing 2.11.1 It is not considered appropriate to impose phasing on the development of lands which are located within or contiguous to the existing built up area of Settlements. Coupled with this approach is the list of potential infrastructure constraints relating to identified growth areas which are due to be resolved within the lifetime of the Plan as set out in Appendix D1 and D2, and as such, it is not considered appropriate to artificially constrain development through the phasing of lands which may come on stream for development where identified constraints have been resolved. 2.11.2 It is considered that the imposition of further phasing could lead to uncertainty in the market which may impact the delivery of development at suitable locations identified for growth. Accordingly, and for the purpose of this Core Strategy lands identified for growth are thus considered suitable to be in the first phase of development subject to being served by the requisite enabling and supporting infrastructure to support development. Residential Reserve 2.11.3 In some of the Metropolitan Towns, Key Towns and some County Towns lands have been identified for residential development which are not required in the short to medium term but are located in settlements where accelerated growth has historically taken place and is anticipated in the future. These lands have been classified as a Residential Reserve, to support their future availability for residential use and to ensure the long term strategic vision for the sustainable development of these lands, and the delivery of enabling infrastructure, can be realised. It is important that these lands continue to be identified as part of the longer-term residential land supply to bring some certainty to the development process. Further details of these Zoning Categories are set out in Chapter 18 Land Use and Zoning. Table 2.7 Residential Reserve Strategic Planning Area Residential Reserve Ha Units County Metro Cork 55 1,628 Greater Cork Ring 78 2,078 North Cork 21 615 West Cork 5 100 County Excl County Metro 104 2,793 Total County 159 4,421 2.12 Urban Expansion Areas and the Monard SDZ: Long term and Strategic Development Areas (Further Additional Provision) 2.12.1 The publication of the Draft Development Plan Guidelines also acknowledges that strategic and sustainable development sites are key development sites that may comprise lands and sites for urban regeneration and/or transport-led development. They may comprise either brownfield/infill or greenfield land and may also be subject to Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) status, or other relevant planning-related designation. Such sites are characterised by: • their potential for significant residential development to be delivered over a timescale greater than a single six-year development plan period; • their significant scale – generally several thousand new homes as a new urban extension to a City or NPF Regional Centre; and • A requirement to be aligned and supported by significant water services, transport and other infrastructural investment. The extended timescale needed to deliver such infrastructure will require certainty in terms of zoning status to ensure such long-term planning and investment. GO TO CONTENTS
- 42 2.12.2 Also, the “Housing for All” document identifies “Urban Development Zones (UDZs) which will appear to play a similar role as our Urban Expansion Areas. It is considered that Urban Development Zones and the Long Term Strategic and Sustainable Development Sites designations are similar in their aims to Cork County Council’s long-established Urban Expansion Areas. 2.12.3 The proposals to develop the Cork Suburban Rail Network as part of an integrated land-use and transportation strategy for the Cork region first emerged in the Land Use and Transportation Study (LUTS) strategy published in 1978. It was subsequentially developed and enhanced in later documents culminating in its re-expression in the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) published in 2001. The creation of an integrated transport system was central to the whole CASP development strategy and was based upon the development of a suburban rail network (including the restoration of the route to Midleton) and a high quality bus network, supported by Park and Ride facilities and improved cycle and pedestrian networks. 2.12.4 While endorsing the Cork Suburban Rail Project, the requirement of the Cork Suburban Rail Feasibility Study (2002) also proposed the establishment of a land use strategy for the station hinterland areas for the full term of the CASP plan, up to the year 2020, resulted in that year being adopted as the horizon year for the Special Local Area Plans, rather than the six- year time horizon that is more usual for local area plans. The Special Local Area Plans prepared by Cork County Council in 2005 represented at the time the final link in the ‘planning chain’, setting out a detailed land use framework for the station hinterlands, the now called Urban Expansion Areas or UEAs situated on the rail network to secure a critical mass of population sufficient to underpin the viability of the rail network. These plans, and the successive land use plans since, have continued to set out a bold longer-term vision for the development of these towns, based on access to high quality rail based public transport. Figure 2.4: CASP Structure Diagram for Metropolitan Cork (CASP, 2001) 2.12.5 More recently, through the establishment of the Council’s Housing Infrastructure Implementation Team (HIIT), the Council has secured significant funding under State Investment Programmes including the LIHAF and URDF schemes with all key stakeholders and has developed valuable experience of the challenges to activating the development of the Urban Expansion Areas. These sites, due to their more layered landownership, servicing complexity and size have a longer lead in time, but it is hoped that substantial development will have commenced during the lifetime of this plan. 2.12.6 The proposal to create a new town at Monard is also part of a wider planning process following on from the Cork Area Strategic Plan (2001). Following designation of the proposed new town in Monard as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) by the Government in May 2010 a Planning Scheme was approved by An Bord Pleanála, subject to modifications in 2016. 2.12.7 Successive National and Regional plans in the intervening period have without exception continued to endorse this strategy for the Cork Metropolitan Area, most recently by the identification of progressing the sustainable development of new greenfield areas for housing, especially those on public transport corridors, such as Monard, as a key growth enabler in the NPF, the RSES and the Cork MASP, all of which copper-fastens this approach to strategic planning in Cork. By providing for major mixed-use development in the vicinity of the re-opened rail stations, it is recognised that they offer the Cork region the opportunity to plan its’ own growth in an environment where land-use and transportation planning have been truly integrated with new and improved rail services offering a realistic, viable and energy efficient alternative to travel by private car in the areas where most new development is concentrated. GO TO CONTENTS
- 43 2.12.8 In acknowledging that the Urban Expansion Area sites at Midleton, Carrigtwohill and Cobh and the SDZ at Monard will not be fully delivered during this development plan cycle, the Council has included land use proposals for these sites in their entirety, as it has in the past in order to continue to give guidance and confidence to all key stakeholders who have been involved to date and also to leverage maximum return from the state funding secured to date. It is with this strategic longer-term vision in mind that this Core Strategy seeks to provide clarity and certainty to ensure that the remaining portions of these Urban Expansion Areas and commencement of the SDZ at Monard will be delivered post 2028 by designating parts of these key sites as Long Term Strategic and Sustainable Development Sites (Further Additional Provision). 2.12.9 For these overall sites there is a portion of development which is likely to be delivered during the development plan period (i.e. to Q3 2028) and also, a portion of development which is unlikely/less likely to be delivered during this development plan period. Where lands are likely to be developed, they form part of this Core Strategy Units and Land Requirement. In addition, where lands are ‘not likely/less likely’ to be developed within the plan period they are should be identified by a ‘Long-Term Strategic and Sustainable Development Site/Further Additional Provision’ designation, reflecting that these sites may deliver housing over the period of this plan or within the subsequent development plan period (i.e. more than 6 years). 2.12.10 In summary therefore, for the settlements of Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Cobh and Monard SDZ, this Plan is looking beyond its current 2028 headline year as regards the contribution the Urban Expansion Areas in these settlements can make to the delivery of the targets to 2031 and beyond. 2.12.11 It is intended that these sites are available for residential development throughout the lifetime of this plan, subject to proper planning and sustainable development. Table 2.8 Long Term Strategic and Sustainable Development Sites Settlement Long Term Strategic and Sustainable Development Sites (Further Additional Provision) Ha Units Midleton 16 390 Carrigtwohill 70 2,390 Cobh 31 1,087 Monard SDZ 41 1,443 Total County 158 5,310 2.13 Core Strategy Statement 2.13.1 In line with the NPF and RSES, a significant portion of County Cork’s proposed growth will be in the County Cork Metropolitan Area and the two Key Towns of Mallow and Clonakilty. In the other County towns, Key Villages and smaller settlements outside of this area, the overall objective is to ensure that these settlements grow at an appropriate rate where both physical and social infrastructure keeps pace with population growth. Having regard to the population and household projections and the settlement hierarchy identified in the RSES, the population and household projections to 2028 are allocated to each level of the settlement network. The following approach was adopted in deciding the appropriate growth rates for the different settlements within the settlement hierarchy: 1. Within the Cork County Metropolitan Area, the majority of the population allocation is to be facilitated within the Metropolitan Towns and Key Villages over 1,500 population as these settlements are considered suitable for growth due to their location within the MASP area and also the availability of existing or planned infrastructure. 2. Outside of the Cork MASP, the Key Towns of Mallow and Clonakilty are large scale urban centres functioning as selfsustaining regional drivers. They are strategically located urban centres with good accessibility and significant influence in a sub-regional context. While significant development is proposed for both Key Towns, as Clonakilty is proportionally a smaller settlement in population terms, it will exceed the 30% population increase on its 2016 population (34 %) growth on 2016 population. GO TO CONTENTS
- 44 3. Generally, the allocation of growth targets, seeks to ensure that the growth would be sustainable and in keeping with the scale of the settlements. It also ensures the capacity to accommodate the additional growth without damage to the settlement’s character and the carrying capacity of their environment and infrastructure. In accordance with the NPF the population growth rates are generally not proposed in excess of 30% of the 2016 population. However, in Bantry were the CSO boundary has resulted in an artificially deflated census baseline population and to reflect its enhanced status in the RSES a special exception is made as it exceeds the 30% by 4%. Using our own population estimates based on Geodirectory and the 2016 development boundary for Bantry this figure reduces to 26%. 4. The extent of residential development and to a lesser extent mixed use residential development, which has occurred since the 2016 Census will affect the growth of future housing within the Plan period. In respect of settlements which saw uniform growth rates over the 2016 population, the requirement for additional housing will result in some settlements having a greater need for additional housing than others of similar size. The units which are under construction or are substantially complete have been accounted for in accordance with the Draft Development Plan Guidelines (2021). 5. In limited circumstances, where there is outstanding planning permission for dwelling units, such developments or commitments may result in these settlements already breaching or close to breaching the 30% rate, this is evident in some of our Key Villages which are to exceed 1,500 people over the lifetime of the plan, within the Cork County Metropolitan Area (Glounthaune and Killumney Ovens). In these cases it is considered important that an allowance for growth on-sites without the benefit of planning permission, taking into account spare capacity or the imminent construction of additional water infrastructure which failed to materialise over the course of the previous plan period is made. 6. This plan does not zone residential development within the boundaries of villages less than 1,500 population or villages that are due to grow in excess of 1,500 during the lifetime of the plan. Rather, each village is assigned an ‘Overall Scale of New Development’. It is not intended that this figure is seen as a target, or an absolute maximum limit on development, but as an indication of the number of additional dwellings which could reasonably be accommodated within a settlement over the lifetime of this plan subject to other considerations of proper planning and sustainable development. 2.13.2 Development within villages also has to be balanced in line with the overall strategy which seeks to establish an appropriate balance in the spatial distribution of future population growth so that the towns can accelerate their rate of growth and achieve a critical mass of population. In addition, the settlement network includes ‘Other Locations’. These “Other Locations” are areas that are recognised as performing important functions with regard to tourism, heritage, recreation and other uses but not generally a residential function. 2.13.3 Core Strategy Statements for the individual settlements over 1,500 population are set out in Appendix C. These set out the evidence base for the determination of the proposed housing allocation for the duration of this plan period. Where evident, the Core Strategy Statement gives an indication as to the most pertinent issues considered in the determination of the proposed population and household allocation, based on a wide range of factors and allied to a detailed residential settlement audit and a through servicing and environmental appraisal. GO TO CONTENTS
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- 46 Table 2.9 Cork County Core Strategy Table Settlement Type / Name Population and Housing Targets Lands (Ha) Unit Supply Settlement Type Settlement Name Census 2016 Population Population Target 2028 Census 2016 (%) Housing Target 2022-2028 (units) Housing Target % Existing Zoning (Ha) (Figures taken from Variation No. 1 to the 2014 CDP)* Zoned land (with Additional Provision) (Ha) Adjustment to Zoned Land (Ha) Compact Growth/ Infill / Brownfield (Ha) Other Residential and Mixed- Use Zoning (Non-infill) with Additional Provision (Net) Ha Compact Growth / Infill / Brownfield (Units) Compact Growth Residential Zoning (Units) Other Residential and Mixed- Use Zoning (without Additional Provision) (Units) Total Housing Supply Compact Growth / Infill / Brownfield / Zoned land Total Units Provided for in this plan (including Additional Provision) County Total 332,015 391,185 100% 22,611 100% County Cork MASP Large Towns (8-10,000) Carrigaline 15,770 20,495 5% 1,806 8% 99 57 42 5 52 373 117 1,316 1,806 1,806 Cobh 12,800 15,836 4% 1,160 5% 72 43 29 2 41 288 80 948 1,316 1,680 Midleton 12,496 19,423 4% 2,647 12% 186 106 80 0 106 300 0 2,852 3,152 3,755 Medium Towns (4-8,000) Passage West /Glenbrook/ Monkstown 5,843 6,835 2% 379 2% 39 12 27 0 12 139 0 240 379 436 Carrigtwohill ~ 5,080 9,749 2% 1,784 8% 145 41 104 0 41 408 0 1,376 1,784 2,002 Approved SDZ Monard 492 492 0% 0 0% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Small Towns (1,500-4/5,000) and Strategic Employment Areas Crosshaven and Bays 2,577 2,847 1% 103 0% N/A 5 N/A 5 0 30 73 0 103 103 Whitegate and Aghada ~ 2,184 2,341 1% 60 0% N/A 9 N/A 7 2 17 35 8 60 60 Cloyne 1,803 2,313 1% 195 1% N/A 9 N/A 7 2 74 121 0 195 229 Glounthaune 1,440 * 2,432 0% 379 2% N/A 14 N/A 4 10 0 90 289 379 379 Little Island ~ 1,461 * 2,769 0% 500 2% 12 17 -5 0 17 0 0 500 500 500 Killumney - Ovens 1,132 2,242 0% 424 2% N/A 23 N/A 8 15 106 115 203 424 424 Ringaskiddy ~ 580 698 0% 45 0% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 45 N/A N/A N/A County Excluding Cork MASP Key Towns Mallow 12,459 15,351 4% 1,105 5% 340 35 305 1 34 237 42 826 1,105 1,207 Clonakilty 4,592 6,162 1% 600 3% 93 25 68 5 20 80 147 373 600 700 County Excluding Cork MASP Self-Sustaining Growth: Medium Towns [>5,000] Youghal 7,963 8,902 2% 359 2% 104 13 91 0 13 136 0 223 359 411 Bandon 6,957 8,773 2% 694 3% 102 48 54 21 27 36 156 502 694 877 Fermoy 6,585 8,351 2% 675 3% 93 26 67 6 20 203 192 280 675 815 Kinsale 5,281 6,338 2% 404 2% 39 12 27 1 11 125 32 247 404 481 GO TO CONTENTS
- 47 Table 2.9 Cork County Core Strategy Table Settlement Type / Name Population and Housing Targets Lands (Ha) Unit Supply Settlement Type Settlement Name Census 2016 Population Population Target 2028 Census 2016 (%) Housing Target 2022-2028 (units) Housing Target % Existing Zoning (Ha) (Figures taken from Variation No. 1 to the 2014 CDP)* Zoned land (with Additional Provision) (Ha) Adjustment to Zoned Land (Ha) Compact Growth/ Infill / Brownfield (Ha) Other Residential and Mixed- Use Zoning (Non-infill) with Additional Provision (Net) Ha Compact Growth / Infill / Brownfield (Units) Compact Growth Residential Zoning (Units) Other Residential and Mixed- Use Zoning (without Additional Provision) (Units) Total Housing Supply Compact Growth / Infill / Brownfield / Zoned land Total Units Provided for in this plan (including Additional Provision) County Excluding Cork MASP Self-Sustaining Small Towns, Key Village and Villages Charleville 3,919 5,112 1% 456 2% 71 14 57 12 2 117 339 0 456 519 Macroom 3,765 4,809 1% 399 2% 61 16 45 10 6 120 229 50 399 486 Mitchelstown 3,740 4,674 1% 357 2% 86 24 62 17 7 0 329 28 357 447 Skibbereen 2,778 3,563 1% 300 1% 69 15 54 8 7 61 129 110 300 344 Bantry 2,722 3,622 1% 344 2% 101 23 78 0 23 87 0 257 344 434 Kanturk 2,350 2,937 1% 224 1% 32 6 26 5 1 120 104 0 224 253 Rathcormack 1,762 2,144 1% 146 1% N/A 9 N/A 7 2 6 140 0 146 169 Dunmanway 1,655 1,985 0% 126 1% 39 7 32 4 3 12 70 44 126 126 Castlemartyr 1,600 1,920 0% 122 1% N/A 5 N/A 4 1 47 75 0 122 148 Millstreet 1,555 1,948 0% 150 1% 20 8 12 5 3 20 100 30 150 150 Watergrasshill 1,346 1,736 0% 149 1% N/A 6 N/A 5 1 0 125 24 149 149 Buttevant 970 1,292 0% 123 1% 32 8 24 6 2 9 114 0 123 161 Newmarket 976 1,206 0% 88 0% 25 4 21 4 0 37 51 0 88 88 Castletownbere 860 1,043 0% 70 0% 38 5 33 5 0 7 63 0 70 70 Schull 700 909 0% 80 0% 11 3 8 3 0 20 60 0 80 80 All Other Key Villages 193,822 209,936 60% 6,158 27% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A All Other Villages Rural Areas Rural Areas Please Note the Following: * This Variation contains the latest available figures for lands currently zoned in the Municipal District Local Area Plans and the Town Development Plans for the former Town Councils. Please refer to Settlement Density Location Guide (as amended) in Chapter 4, Volume of the Plan for more detail on the density targets for each settlement ~ Strategic Employment Areas. Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this table may not add up precisely to the totals provided in other tables contained in the plan there may be a +1 / -1 difference * These are estimated populations based on Geodirectory Data for Q2 2016. GO TO CONTENTS
- 48 2.14 Strategic Planning Areas in Cork 2.14.1 The policies and objectives for each of the four Strategic Planning Areas in County Cork are set out in this section. Figure 2.5 Strategic Planning Areas in Cork County GO TO CONTENTS
- 49 County Metropolitan Cork Strategic Planning Area 2.14.2 The County Metropolitan Area (CMA) as set out in the RSES for the Southern Region and the Cork MASP (Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan) Area is the main engine of population and employment growth for the region. In conjunction with the relevant infrastructure providers, it is essential that the critical water services, roads and transport infrastructure is provided in a timely manner to ensure that sufficient lands are available to support the ambitious population growth targets. 2.14.3 In order to support the achievement of these targets the supply of residentially zoned land in the County Metropolitan Cork Strategic Planning Area must be robust enough to absorb the amount of expected growth, provide sufficient housing choice across the area and make provision for contingencies in the event that some lands may not become available as quickly as expected within the CMA as a whole. Some of these sites require further study and infrastructure investment in order to unlock their potential. These requirements are set out in more detail in the Implementation and Delivery Chapter of this plan. County Development Plan Objective CS 2-3: County Metropolitan Cork Strategic Planning Area (a) Recognise the importance of the role to be played by the Cork Metropolitan Area in the development of the Cork ‘MASP’ as identified in the RSES for the Southern Region, in tandem with the development of Cork City, to promote its development as an integrated planning unit to function as a single market area for homes and jobs where there is equality of access for all, through an integrated transport system, to the educational and cultural facilities worthy of a modern and vibrant European City; (b) Recognise Cork Harbour as a unique and strategic asset both nationally and internationally and promote the development of the Cork Harbour Economy as a key driver of economic growth at a metropolitan, county, regional, national and international level, while simultaneously sustainably managing the future development of the Cork Harbour area, taking account of its environmental, ecological, heritage and landscape values. (c) Maintain the principles of the Metropolitan Cork Greenbelt to protect the setting of the City and the Metropolitan Towns and to provide easy access to the countryside and facilities for sports and recreation. (d) Within the Cork Metropolitan Area, and most notably along the existing rail corridor, plan for development to provide the homes and jobs that are necessary to serve the long term planned population prioritised in the following locations, Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Cobh and Little Island. (e) Support the development of Passage Town Centre to provide for housing, employment, retail, office, community and recreational uses. (f) Provide an enhanced public transport network linking the City, its environs, the Metropolitan Towns and the major centres of employment in line with the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (2020); (g) Promote the development in the medium to longer term, of the designated Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at Monard. (h) Continue to assist in the redevelopment of industrial uses and major port facilities, primarily at Ringaskiddy, to where deep-water berths are viable and appropriate infrastructure is planned to facilitate freight transport. (i) Support the existing Strategic Employment Locations as important economic assets, particularly in terms of public transport provision and linkages to local residential populations. (j) Maximise new development, for both jobs and housing, in the Metropolitan Towns served by the North and East Cork Rail Corridor (including the proposed new settlement at Monard) and to enhance the capacity of these towns to provide services and facilities to meet the needs of their population; (k) Facilitate the development of the villages so that the rate of future population growth compliments the strategy to achieve a critical mass of population in the towns and provide protection for those areas recognised as under pressure from urban development. (l) Facilitate the development of renewable energy projects in support of national climate change objectives. GO TO CONTENTS
- 50 Greater Cork Ring Strategic Planning Area 2.14.4 The need to adjust the County’s population targets in previous plans has arisen primarily because of the rapid acceleration in population growth experienced in the Greater Cork Ring area during the past two decades. The new population target proposed for the Greater Cork Ring are based upon a strengthening of the Ring Towns acting in concert to support the Cork Metropolitan Area is broadly accepted as a reasonable approach to the issues that the area faces. 2.14.5 All of the policies proposed in this plan support the delivery of the target for the Greater Cork Ring Area. They include the development of measures intended to attract more population growth to locations in the Metropolitan Area including: renewal of town centres, encouraging better housing mix, and by prioritising coordinated investment in infrastructure which needs to be provided. 2.14.6 Also, where the rate of rural housing development threatens to undermine the settlement network, this plan sets out to provide continued improved management for this type of development focussing on the needs of rural communities. County Development Plan Objective CS 2-4: Greater Cork Ring Strategic Planning Area (a) Recognise the importance of the role to be played by Mallow as a ‘Key’ town in the implementation of the National Planning Framework and RSES for the Southern Region to focus growth in North Cork and; to promote its development as a major centre of employment and population where there is a high standard of access to educational and cultural facilities; and to provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure that the expansion of Mallow can be achieved without having adverse impacts on the receiving environment. (b) Establish an appropriate balance in the spatial distribution of future population growth, in line with this Core Strategy, so that Bandon, Fermoy, Kinsale, Macroom and Youghal can accelerate their rate of growth and achieve a critical mass of population to enable them to maximise their potential to attract new investment in employment, services and public transport; (c) Protect and enhance the natural and built heritage assets of Kinsale to facilitate the development of the town as a Principal Tourist Attraction; (d) Facilitate the development of the villages so that the rate of future population growth compliments the strategy to achieve a critical mass of population in the towns and provide protection for those areas recognised as under pressure from urban development; (e) Strengthen and protect the rural communities of the area by encouraging sustainable growth in population, protecting agricultural infrastructure and productivity so that agriculture remains the principal rural land use and focusing other employment development in the main towns and key villages; (f) Secure the development of the Midleton – Youghal Greenway. (g) Recognise the importance of the Strategic Transport Improvement Corridor to the overall economic potential of the south-western part of the area and the facilitation of a balanced economic strategy for the County as a whole; (h) Protect and enhance the natural heritage of the Blackwater Catchment; and prioritise the adequate provision of water services and transport infrastructure to meet current needs and future population targets while protecting the areas environment. (i) Facilitate the development of renewable energy projects in support of national climate change objectives. GO TO CONTENTS
Source Cork County Council: Cork County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume One: Main Policy Material (2022–2028) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.