7.90 There will be a general presumption against the development of additional retail parks and further retail warehousing located in industrial estates and business parks. The preferred location for new retail warehousing / bulky goods floor space is within the District Centres and Ballincollig (Large Urban) Town Centre and. Certain sites within City Docks may also be appropriate. It is important that the range of goods sold in retail parks / retail warehouses is controlled to protect the comparison shopping function of the City Centre and other comparison locations identified in the Retail Hierarchy. The Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) acknowledges that there are ancillary items associated with an otherwise bulky good but recommend that the retail floorspace devoted to such ancillary products should not exceed 20% of the total net retail floorspace of the relevant retail warehouse unit.
Town Centre and to only allow retail development in edge-of-centre or out-of-centre locations where all other options have been exhausted. There will be a general presumption against large, out-of- centre retail development in the City. Where an edge of centre site is proposed, the applicant must demonstrate that no other sites or potential sites including vacant units are suitable, available or viable within the centre. The Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) define the edge of centre area as being within easy walking distance of the identified primary retail area (usually between 300 and 400 metres of the Core Retail Area and to be confirmed in individual circumstances).
The Sequential Approach to the Location of Retail
7.91 Upon completion, the Joint Retail Strategy will set out capacity figures for comparison and convenience floorspace requirements in the Cork Metropolitan Area. Any future retail floorspace should be distributed in line with national guidance on the sequential approach. The Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) confirm that the sequential approach to retail development is an overarching objective in retail planning to enhance the vitality and viability of city and town centres. 7.92 The Core Retail Areas (CRAs) for the City Centre, District Centres and Large Urban Town Centres (Levels 1 and 2 of the Retail Hierarchy) are the preferred locations for significant new retail development within the City. These centres are identified in the Mapped Objectives as the City Centre Core Retail Area and the areas zoned District Centre in the case of the suburban centres and Ballincollig Town Centre. The sequential approach should be applied to new development, change of use and extension applications that are of a scale that is likely to have a significant impact on the role and function of existing retail centres. The order of priority is to locate retail development in the City Centre and designated District Centres/Ballincollig
Retail Impact Assessment
7.93 Significant retail proposals should be supported by a Retail Impact Assessment, in order to demonstrate compliance with the City Development Plan and that there will be no adverse effect on the vitality and viability of any existing retail centre, including its revitalisation and rejuvenation, and aligns to the principle of achieving compact growth. Retail Impact Assessments shall be in accordance with the requirements as set out in the Retail Planning Guidelines (2012). The requirement to submit a retail impact assessment shall be determined by Cork City Council and may be done so at pre-application consultation stage or in the course of determining the application.
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Cork City Draft Development Plan 2022-2028
Volume 1 I Chapter 7
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