Increasing housing supply is one of Cork City Council’s top priorities. The current Cork City Development Plan will support the development of 20,000 homes. Cork’s planning policy is centred around locating housing close to public transport infrastructure and services. Blackpool, Ballyvolane, Ballincollig, Glanmire, Grange and Blarney have been identified as strategic areas for growth in the city.
As the planning authority, Cork City Council guides the location, amount and type of development in the city by making decisions on planning applications. This includes private housing, its own social housing programme and purpose-built student accommodation, which is seen as key to freeing up supply in the wider private rental sector. Cork City Council has exceeded government targets for social home delivery in recent years and supported the delivery of affordable, cost rental and right sizing homes with approved housing bodies like Tuath, Clúid and Respond. Cork City Council has also been a national leader in how it has developed infill sites across the city and is at the forefront of the delivery of right sizing options for older persons,with the ongoing development of age-friendly housing schemes.
In addition, the Cork City Northwest Quarter Regeneration scheme in Knocknaheeny will deliver over 650 new homes in the lifetime of the programme, including new streets, squares, parks, community facilities and a full programme of social, economic and environmental initiatives.
The Land Development Agency (LDA) is also redeveloping the lands at St Kevin’s Hospital in Shanakiel to develop 226 social, affordable and private homes on this 14-acre site on the northern banks of the River Lee. Hundreds of cost rental homes will be delivered in Cork Docklands, on Horgan’s Quay, while Blackrock Villas in Blackrock Village is also being developed with the support of the Government’s Croí Cónaithe initiative. The wider Cork Docklands has the capacity to deliver homes for 20,000 people – growing the heart of the city.
Affordable housing schemes have been delivered in Bishopstown, Montenotte, Mayfield and Tower. Cost rental schemes have been delivered on Western Road and in Glanmire while rightsizing schemes have been developed in Blackrock, Bishopstown and Douglas.
