Light Industry and Other Related Uses
Technology Industries
7.52 Traditional industries are being replaced by new categories of business which provide a range of products and services in an environment which is frequently similar to a modern office environment. These businesses are sometimes known as office-based industry. They include activities such as software development, information technology, telemarketing, commercial research and development, data processing, publishing, and media recording. They are increasingly locating in City Centre and edge of City Centre locations. Cork City Council will support development of these activities, particularly in the City Centre and Docklands and also in the suburban Business and Technology Zones. As these are frequently high intensity employment uses similar to offices, the provision of high-quality public transport will be a priority in determining the capacity of suburban locations to take these activities.
7.53 Light industry and manufacturing are core contributors to the local economy. They provide for a diverse economic base to support a more inclusive and resilient city overall. 7.54 There is a need to protect space for these uses due to increasing land values and higher density developments and this can be done effectively through zoning. As set out in the strategic employment locations section, consideration also needs to be given to how these uses are distributed throughout Cork City with integration between the economic uses and current skills-sets whilst also looking ahead to upskilling and higher education attainment rates city-wide. 7.55 The general strategy will be to retain the majority of these light industrial areas and where possible, provide for their expansion where there is limited capacity in existing facilities or zoned areas. Offices or office-based industry or retail uses will not be permitted in areas zoned for light industry unless they are ancillary to the primary industrial uses. Leisure uses which are compatible with the surrounding uses may be open for consideration in limited cases where no other suitable location is available, the land is not needed for industrial uses (documentary evidence may be required), and taking into account access, traffic and broader safety issues, and amenity considerations. In determining the compatibility of any particular leisure use within this zone Cork City Council will take into account inter alia existing levels of non- industrial uses in the surrounding zoned area; the major land use in any area zoned for light industry purposes should be uses permitted under the primary objective of this land-use zoning. 7.56 There are a number of general industrial uses in transitional parts of Cork City where planned regeneration is proposed, such as Tivoli and Docklands, but also in areas that are under regeneration influence such as Tramore Road.
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Cork City Draft Development Plan 2022-2028
Volume 1 I Chapter 7
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