Regional strategy (RSES) · Southern Region
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region
The regional strategy for the Southern Region, including the Cork, Limerick–Shannon and Waterford metropolitan area strategic plans.
Southern Regional Assembly · January 2020 · 382 pages
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- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES231 Cork Metropolitan Area a. To strengthen the role of the Cork Metropolitan Area as an international location of scale, a complement to Dublin and a primary driver of economic and population growth in the Southern Region b. To promote the Cork Metropolitan Area as a cohesive metropolitan employment and property market where population and employment growth is integrated with: (i) the city centre as the primary location at the heart of the metropolitan area and region reinforced by (ii) the continued regeneration, consolidation and infrastructure led growth of the city centre, Cork City Docklands, Tivoli and suburban areas (iii) active land management initiatives to enable future infrastructure led expansion of the city and suburbs (to be assessed by Core Strategy initiatives) and (iv) the regeneration, consolidation and infrastructure led growth of metropolitan towns and other strategic employment locations in a sustainable manner. c. Seek co-ordinated investment and delivery of holistic infrastructure packages across State Departments and infrastructure delivery agencies as they apply to the Cork Metropolitan Area and seek further investments to deliver on the Metropolitan Area Goals (see Volume III ). d. The Cork MASP allows flexibility to respond to changes in planning policy, infrastructure requirements and prioritises that will arise in the area which will be added to Cork City as a result of the boundary extension, framed by the principles set out in RPO 8 Compact Growth in Metropolitan Areas, other objectives of the Cork MASP and MASP Goal 7 in Volume III. e. Support communities in Metropolitan Towns through regeneration initiatives, investment to support retrofitting holistic infrastructures (physical, social, recreational, public transport, active travel networks including enhanced filtered mobility for pedestrians and cyclists inter alia) , seek vibrant metropolitan communities with a high quality of life, mixed uses and services and seek the infrastructure led sustainable compact growth of metropolitan settlements. f. Any reference to support for all plans, projects, activities and development in the MASP should be considered to refer to ‘sustainable development’ that shall be subject to appropriate feasibility studies, best practice site/route selection (to consider environmental constraints), environmental assessment including EcIA to support development management and where required, the completion of statutory SEA, EIA and AA processes as appropriate g. The MASP seeks to protect, manage and through enhanced ecological connectivity, to improve the coherence of the Natura 2000 Network in the Region Cork MASP Policy Objective 1 1.3 | Context of Other Strategic Planning Initiatives There is a long track record of planning for the metropolitan area of Cork and wider city region, involving partnerships between both Cork City Council and Cork County Council and other key stakeholders particularly through the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) -- a long-established framework and process for integrated planning in Cork.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES232 2.0 | Key Components & Attributes 2.1 | Cork City: The Heart of the Metropolitan Area and Region EU research by ESPON identified Cork as Ireland’s second tier city1. The study highlights the contribution of well organised city regional strategic land use planning, good working relationships and collaboration between stakeholders, success in attracting FDI, balanced economic profile between sectors, young educated and highly skilled workforce, strong third level sector and research community and conscious local policies to promote place quality assets as key contributors to its success. Cork City is notable for initiatives including: • Strengthening a vibrant retail core; • Enhanced public transport and sustainable travel; • Public realm and transformational projects including the Grand Parade/Beamish and Crawford/Sullivan’s Quay Cluster, the Cork City Harbour Interchange Cluster; • City medieval spine and cultural precincts of South Parish and Shandon; • Regional scaled city parks and waterfront amenities connecting the city centre to the harbour; • Regeneration initiatives delivering housing, commercial and community development. Collaboration and confidence to meet the challenges of delivering future growth are evident through examples such as: • Cork: A City Rising is a Beautiful Thing initiative which highlights progress on over 30 prime regeneration and development sites in the city • We Are Cork initiative between Cork City and Cork County Councils, marketing the city and county internationally. The Cork City Centre Strategy (2014) works to deliver a “Healthy Heart” for the Cork region by revitalising the City Centre through increased investment, improvement and development, better management based on partnership and increased marketing of the City Centre experience. 2The following trends are an indicator of dynamics of the city centre: • A whole city in renaissance with 5.5% growth in the last Census period; • Higher percentage of young age and working age cohorts in the City Centre Central Business District (CBD) than the Metropolitan Area overall, Region and State average (for example 51% aged 25 to 44 in the City Centre CBD compared to 31%, 28% and 29.5% for those other areas respectively); • A truly international city, recording 42% of the population as Non-Irish in the City Centre CBD; • A higher labour force participation rate in the City Centre CBD (68.6%) than the Metropolitan Area overall, Region and State (60%, 59.5% and 61.5% respectively); • High recorded rates of travel to work/education by green modes (46.5%) compared to the Metropolitan Area overall (18.5%), Region (13.5%) and State (17 %); • High recorded rates of travel to work/education by public transport in the City Centre CBD (21.5%) compared to the Metropolitan Area overall (9%), Region (8%) and State (13%). Other unique attributes of the city include: • A university and learning city with a student population of more than 35,000; • Ranked no. 1 for business friendliness among small European cities by FDI Intelligence under the 2014- 15 European Cities and Regions Future report; • Higher education institutes, UCC and CIT, establishment of the Munster Technology University and elite research centres including Tyndall, and Rubicon Centre. • Dynamic clusters of specialisms such as it@cork technology cluster and Energy Cork; • Leading FDI and indigenous enterprise location within the City Centre, Mahon, north, west and south suburbs with many companies have multiple sites across the metropolitan area (Apple, Lilly, J&J, Dell, Stryker, etc.); • World class digital and telecommunications infrastructure assets including Tier 1 connectivity and the fastest latency to New York than anywhere in Europe; • Cork City twinned with six other international cities including Cologne, Coventry, Rennes, San Francisco, Swansea and Shanghai; 1. ESPON Second Tier Cities and Territorial Development in Europe: Performance, Policies and Prospects, Section 3 How Do National and Local Policies Affect Second Tier Cities: 2012. 2. AIRO Key Regional Indicators Socio-Economic Baseline Report.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES233 • Designated by the World Health Organisation as a Healthy City; • Cork City Centre awarded the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation an international award for excellence in the evening and night time economy of the city; • One of 12 cities globally, and three in Europe, presented with the inaugural UNESCO Learning City Award in 2015; • Under the EU’s Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor, in 2017 Cork was ranked first in European mediumsized cities for cultural vibrancy and cultural venues and facilities and is ranked within the Top 5 for human capital and education and openness, tolerance and trust; • Voted the third Friendliest City in the World by Condé Nast Travellers 2018. Other signals of confidence, including projects supported under the NDP, include: • Continued initiatives to improve the public realm, public transport and more sustainable accessibility to the city centre; • Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project. • New acute hospital for Cork and Cork University Hospital Phase 2 • Investment in the Crawford Art Gallery, a significant cultural asset of the State; • Recent completion of Páirc Uí Chaoimh; • Advancement of developing Ballincollig Regional Park, Marina Park and Tramore Valley Park, regional scaled recreational assets; • Increased pace of development in private sector development in the City Centre including One Albert Quay, Navigation Square, and Nano Nagle Place. Commercial investment in the city centre is promoting the city as a competitive location for international financial services; • Progress in developing a 6,000 seat Cork Events Centre, with potential to deliver 200,000 visitors into Cork on an annual basis; • Progress on the Cork Science and Innovation Park; • Progress on the delivery of the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy, which will facilitate re-location of port activities from the docklands, allowing regeneration processes to advance. A maritime city steeped in heritage, Cork has significant urban and cultural tourism assets and lively festivals, placing it as a prime city break destination and quality of life destination to live and work. Sports, recreation and amenity is supported as a city-wide attribute. Economic and social regeneration in disadvantaged areas is important so growth and prosperity in a rising city is socially inclusive, providing opportunities and enhanced quality of life for all. Active regeneration initiatives are ongoing, especially driven through the LECP, Local Community Development Committee and RAPID initiatives. The MASP supports a healthy, living and working city centre that is the economic, social and cultural heart of the Cork Metropolitan Area. Regeneration and consolidation of the city centre, new urban quarters in the Docklands and consolidation of the suburbs and will drive this role. Cork City Seek delivery of the following subject to the required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes. a. To strengthen the consolidation and regeneration of Cork City Centre to drive its role as a vibrant living, retailing and working city, the economic, social and cultural heart of the Cork Metropolitan Area and Region. b. Seek investment to achieve the infrastructure led brownfield regeneration of the Cork City Docklands and Tivoli as high quality, mixed use sustainable waterfront urban quarters, transformative projects which set national and international good practice standards in innovation, green and quality design, exemplary urbanism and place making. c. Seek investment to achieve regeneration and consolidation in the city suburbs and high quality architectural and urban design responses to enhance the uses of this waterfront and all urban quarters. d. To strengthen the attributes and opportunities for the city centre, including transformative initiatives such as the City Centre Strategy and other initiatives as identified by the City Development Plan (existing and future). e. Seek investment for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing public buildings as a driver for private sector development e.g. English Market. f. Seek to achieve High Quality Design to reflect a high-quality architectural building stock in all urban quarters. g. Seek delivery of a network of large city parks and smaller green areas throughout the metropolitan area and inner-city areas. h. Strengthen Social and Community Development i. Support active regeneration initiatives that are ongoing, especially driven through the Local Economic Community Plan, Local Community Development Committee and RAPID initiatives. j. Seek investment towards initiatives that tackle high housing vacancy rates and seek conversion of vacant stock to active housing uses. k. Support investment in strategic national innovation enabling assets within the city, specifically the expansion of Tyndall National Institute to the North Mall and the development of UCC’s new Cork University Business School in the city centre. Cork MASP Policy Objective 2
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES234 2.2 | Assets of the wider Cork Metropolitan Area The wider metropolitan area has strategic national and regional assets which complement the role of the City. Collectively, these drive the role the Cork Metropolitan Area. In addition to the City, the strategic assets of the metropolitan area include: • A strong network of vibrant metropolitan towns connected on existing and planned strengthened public transport networks. Metropolitan towns in Cork are among the largest, fasted growing and youngest (age cohort wise) towns in the Region. • Monard Strategic Development Zone, a new planned metropolitan town and strategic residential location on the suburban rail line between Blarney and Cork City. • Strategic national asset of Cork Harbour (see section and specific objective below) including Tier 1 Port of Cork • Considerable marine resources in Cork Harbour with internationally renowned leaders in marine research and technology, including the MaREI Research Centre • Cork International Airport • Significant clusters and global leaders in ICT and life sciences. • Strategic employment locations with strong foreign direct investment and indigenous enterprises. Locations include Carrigtwohill (IDA Carrigtwohill East/Ballyadam, Little Island and Ringaskiddy. • Significant agriculture, agri-tech excellence and food and beverage production. • Significant energy resources and renewable energy production (Whitegate, Ireland’s Energy Park) and potential energy interconnector to Europe (Eirgrid’s Celtic Interconnector project) • Digital assets including direct international fibre optic connection to the USA (Hibernia Express Link), E Centre networks. • Significant tourism, culture and heritage offer with unique towns, villages and attractions on and close to both the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East corridors • Exceptional natural amenities and recreational activities offering high quality of life opportunities accessible to and integrated with a thriving international scaled city and city region. Objectives of the Cork MASP support and seek to strengthen these assets and opportunities. The Cork MASP supports physical and social infrastructure, regeneration and improving quality of life for existing metropolitan towns and communities, especially the retrofitting of such infrastructure for communities that experienced past high levels of growth without matching infrastructure and services. It is important that compact residential and employment growth is matched with mixed use services, physical, social and recreational infrastructure and that such services are identified and addressed in lower tier plans for the sustainable regeneration and growth of metropolitan towns. Cork MASP Objective 1 (e) supports investment in infrastructure and services for metropolitan towns and communities.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES235 2.3 | Cork Harbour 2.4 | Cork Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan and the Wider Region As Europe’s largest natural harbour, Cork Harbour is a special character area and strategic asset. It is a location sharing port activities, strategic employment uses, marine research, energy generation, tourism, heritage and residential communities in an environment with sensitive ecosystems and natural amenities (Cork Harbour SPA). Strategic marine sector facilities in the harbour area include Tier 1 Port of Cork, dry dock facilities at Cobh, Marino Point, Irish Naval Service Haulbowline, National Maritime College of Ireland, MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy and Whitegate - Ireland’s Energy Park. Significant tourism and cultural attractions include Cobh, Spike Island (a No 1 in Europe award winning attraction) and Fort Camden Meagher. The remediation of Haulbowline will provide an additional harbour recreational amenity. Fishing harbours, marinas, harbour greenways, characterful towns in outstanding natural settings all set the location apart as unique for the Region. Balanced with the protection and enhancement of the natural environment, heritage and communities of the harbour area, it is evident that the multi-sectoral assets have potential for Maritime Cork to be a key catalyst and driver for economic growth. There is an opportunity, to put in place a framework to guide the sustainable future management of different uses in the Cork Harbour area, including driving the role of strategic economic assets, while protecting the sensitive ecosystems and designated natural habitats. As a primary driver of economic and population growth in the Region, the Cork Metropolitan Area can drive and support economic growth in other locations. There is a close network and functional relationship between the city, metropolitan area and settlements such as the ring towns of Mallow (a Key Town) Bandon, Kinsale, Fermoy, Macroom and Youghal and other towns in North and West Cork including Mitchelstown, Charleville, Kanturk and Clonakilty. The RSES supports the sustainable, employment-led growth, consolidation and enhancement of services for such settlements (see Chapter 3). Chapter 4 Strong Economy, Chapter 6 Connectivity and the objectives of the Cork MASP seek progress in these areas, especially for enhanced connectivity between each Metropolitan Area, to the Atlantic Economic Corridor and Ten-T Corridor, to enable the efficient economic movement of freight to and from our ports and airports. Cork Harbour a. To promote Cork Harbour as a unique and strategic asset in the Cork Metropolitan Area and the Region and seek investment in the sustainable development of projects that will strengthen the potential for Cork Harbour to be a first mover in Marine Spatial Planning, a significant driver for economic growth, balanced with the protection of the harbour’s ecology and natural habitats (Cork Harbour SPA). b. To seek a specific planning framework initiative through the Core Strategies of Local Authority Development Plans as appropriate to guide the sustainable future management of different uses in the Cork Harbour area, including strategic economic uses, while protecting the sensitive ecosystems and designated natural habitats. c. The initiative under Part (b) shall address opportunities of a waterfront city and the harbour area, the opportunities for harbour communities, enhanced transport and public transport connections, Tier 1 Port activity, industries, clusters of economic specialism, research and innovation in the marine economy, renewable energy, ecology and habitat protection, ecosystems services, tourism, greenways and blueways inter alia. d. The delivery of plans and projects in the Cork Harbour area as a result of this objective shall be subject to quality site selection processes that consider environmental constraints and undertake environmental assessments including EcIA, SEA, EIA and AA processes as appropriate. Cork MASP Policy Objective 3
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES236 Cork Metropolitan Area Regional Interactions In support of the role of the Cork Metropolitan Area as a primary driver of economic and population growth in the Region, seek to strengthen inter-regional and intra-regional connectivity (public transport, strategic road network and digital) subject to the outcome of environmental assessments and the planning process: a. Between the Cork Metropolitan Area and the other metropolitan areas of Galway, Limerick-Shannon and Waterford, strengthen connectivity to the Atlantic Economic Corridor, to the Kerry Hub and Knowledge Triangle and strengthen connectivity to the TEN-T Network. b. Between the Cork Metropolitan Area and Key Towns in the Southern Region, especially Key Towns in the South West which include Mallow, Clonakilty, Tralee and Killarney and Dungarvan in the South East. c. Between the Cork Metropolitan Area and settlements in a strategic North Cork Agri-Tech Network with Mallow Key Town, in a strategic West Cork Marine Network with Clonakilty Key Town and a central North and West Network connecting the two, initiatives which will be progressed through the County Development Plan process. d. Between the Cork Metropolitan Area and the ring towns of Bandon, Fermoy, Macroom, Kinsale and Youghal through the sustainable development of enhanced critical mass to attract new investment in employment, services and public transport and support Kinsale’s role as a Principal Tourist Attraction. e. Recognise the role of Cork City as a Gaeltacht Service City under the Gaeltacht Act 2012. f. Support multi modal enhanced transport and digital connectivity between Cork, Limerick-Shannon and Waterford cities and metropolitan areas and the delivery of infrastructures as supported in objectives under Chapter 6 Connectivity. Cork MASP Policy Objective 4 SOURCE | NTA Hinterland analysis NTA Map Showing the Catchment of the Urban Core of the Cork Metropolitan Area The scale of development, roles and cumulative impact in other settlements in the wider city region and rural areas, identified in the County Development Plan Core Strategy, will be at a level so as not to undermine the MASP Goals, Objectives for the Cork MASP and the role of the City as the driver for the Region.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES237 2.5 | Example Trends for the Cork Metropolitan Area The following infographics provide details of the key components and attributes of the Cork Metropolitan Area. 19.9% 13.7% 30.9% 23% 12.6% Age 15-24 Age 25-44 Age 45-64 Age 65+Age 0-14 Population by Age Old & Young Age Dependency Rate 12% UP Cork Metropolitan Area 9.9% UP Southern Region 14.8% UP State Population Change 2006 - 2016 Old Young Cork City & Suburbs Cork City Centre Southern Region State 18.6% 19.4% 10.1% 22.4% 20.4% 29.4% 25.5% 9% 32.6% 32.3% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% Cork Metropolitan Area
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES238 Cork City & Suburbs Cork City Centre Southern Region StateCork Metropolitan Area Diversity and our Migrant Communities Housing Tenure 2016 Census Non-Irish Nationals 11.7% 41.8% 11.4%12.4% 10% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 14.6% 16.8% 37.3% 23.4% 7.9% 16.8% 13.2% 36.4% 27.7% 5.9% 14.8% 14.3% 36.8% 27.4% 6.7% 1945-70 1971-2000 Post 2001 N/APre 1945 Owned Outright N/ARented from Private Landlord Social Rented Owned with Mortgage or Loan Owned Outright N/ARented from Private Landlord Social Rented Housing Year Built 1 2 3 1. Cork Metropolitan Area 2. Southern Region 3. State 1. Cork Metropolitan Area 2. Cork City & Suburbs 3. Southern Region 5. State Cork City Centre 1 2 4 5 29.9% 32.5% 21.6% 11.5% 25.7% 32.2% 23.7% 13.7% 4.5%4.7%4.7% 4.6% 30% 39.4% 16.2% 9.8% 31.6% 36% 18.2% 9.4% 5.5% 10.6% 61.4% 12.3% 10.2% Owned with Mortgage or Loan
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES239 StateSouthern RegionCork Metropolitan Area Households with Broadband 75% 70.7% 66.4% 20% 10% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Cork City & Suburbs Cork City Centre Southern Region StateCork Metropolitan Area Education Attainment: All Third Level 37.3% 45.9% 33.4% 37.4% 30.3% 10% 20% 30% 50% 40% Cork City & Suburbs Cork City Centre Southern Region StateCork Metropolitan Area 14.3% 12.2% 14.7% 12.8% 16% 5% 15% 20% 10% Education Attainment: Tech/Apprentice/Cert
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES240 Education Attainment: No Formal/Primary Cork City & Suburbs Cork City Centre Southern Region StateCork Metropolitan Area 9.8% 7% 12.5% 10.7% 12.6% 3% 6% 9% 12% 15% Cork Metropolitan Area StateCork City & Suburbs Cork City Centre Southern Region Housing Vacancy* 6.5% 12.8%6.8% 9.6% 9.1% Mode of Travel to Work/Education 66.9% 8.6% 18.4% Private Transport Public Transport Walking & Cycling Metropolitan Area 62.3% 9.2% 22.5% Private Transport Public Transport Walking & Cycling City & Suburbs 20.3% 21.5% 46.5% Private Transport Public Transport Walking & Cycling City Centre *Excluding Holiday Homes
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