Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029
In many of these parameters, we are thriving. Cork City has a vibrant cultural scene and is a designated UNESCO Learning City, a WHO Healthy City and a Rainbow City. Our participation in the EU Mission on Climate- Neutral and Smart Cities means the city is going one step further and striving to go ‘net zero’ through innovative and bold action. We are one of the best cities in the EU for economic development and GDP and an economic driver of the South-West region. This plan is being published at a time when Cork City is entering a period of unprecedented transformation. Cork City Council plans to invest billions into some of the biggest, and most-anticipated, projects set to improve how we live, work and enjoy our city over the coming years. Up to €2.5 billion is being invested into the city to make it greener, more connected and ultimately more livable for the projected 353,500 of us who will call Cork home by 2040 (an increase of 129,500 from today’s population).
We are on track to exceed ambitious new social housing targets, with €1.9 billion in housing delivered by 2026 . By 2028, employment in the city is expected to grow by 35,000.
8 new train stations by 2040.
The challenge that we face, and that’s particularly relevant to this local economic and community plan, is to ensure that the most marginalised and vulnerable people in Cork City benefit from this growth and investment and that it is balanced citywide. The growth must also be sustainable, leading to a green economy. We must build communities , not just buildings and infrastructure. We hope you will read this plan and its accompanying action plan and feel hopeful that inclusion and community building are at its heart. Afterall, Cork City is a city of communities. While we cannot have a map for the future, we must have a compass, and a shared vision to work towards. This local economic and community plan was shaped by a broad public consultation and hopes to provide some direction we can take, as we navigate the path to an inclusive future for all.
¤2.5 billion
investment for the city to make it greener and more connected.
There are also major plans afoot to increase and enhance our green spaces and utilise the river for tourism and recreation. We are set to plant 4,000 trees this year alone! How we travel will be transformed by the €3.5 billion being invested in the Cork Metropolitan Area that will see bus services increase by over 50% by 2026 , over 30km of cycle lanes are under
construction or in the pipeline and 8 new train stations by 2040 with a frequency every 15 minutes to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh.
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