Chapter 7
Economy and Employment
Issues / Recommendations / Observations
Sub. No.
Chief Executive’s Response & Recommendation
It is noted that parking levels are reduced relative to the last plan by between 50% and 60%. While acknowledging the presumed intent of acting to reduce car dependency, concerns are raised as regards the short-term results of this measure. While we await the implementation of CMATS many employers will still seek a level of private parking. This must be robustly addressed by CMATS, but should not compromise City investment opportunities, that could go elsewhere in the short term. The submission welcomes the development of community enterprise centres being provided for in this plan in a bid to encourage more employment opportunities in every neighbourhood in the city. This will have a direct impact on commuting requirements and the higher-than-average dependence on private cars in Cork city to get to and from work. It will be an essential part of developing a compact city. The submission encourages a vibrant mix of uses within the designated centres outlined in the development plan. To have people living in the city is fundamentally important to the economic vibrancy of the city centre, and it is therefore of utmost importance that there is a blend of retail, residential, services and hospitality in any one area. Supports flexibility in terms of providing for complementary uses and considers it appropriate to facilitate residential, office or hospitality on St Patrick’s Street. While they should not be the dominant uses, where appropriate development proposals which come forward that might enliven the area should be actively
The Draft Plan includes Objectives for mixed uses within the City Centre as per Objectives 7.2 Supporting Economic Growth and Diversity and 7.36 Vibrant and Mixed Use Centres. Objectives 7.7 Education and Skills and 7.9 Cork Digital City support learning. Patrick Street is part of the City’s retail core and other uses are permissible, subject to ensuring the primacy of the retail environment is not undermined. Recommendation: (i) Amend paragraph 7.25 as follows: 7.25 In light of the development of Cork Science and Innovation Campus, along with the development of MTU, UCC, Cork University Hospital, the City Centre, Cork University Business School (CUBS), the Docklands, and Mahon along the proposed route of the Light Rail Transit network, an Innovation Corridor is emerging in the city. The objective is to strengthen innovation in the Cork and ensure that it the benefits are spread throughout the city. (ii) Amend Objective 7.3 Economic Clusters and Innovation Corridor Objective 7.3 Economic Clusters and Innovation Corridor To facilitate strategic innovation and competitiveness by: a. Supporting the prominence and expansion of existing economic clusters. b. Encouraging and promoting opportunities to facilitate new cluster development and create spin-off opportunities outside the clusters. c. There is an emerging innovation corridor across the city, spanning from the Cork Science and Innovation Park to MTU, UCC, CUH, the City Centre, Cork University Business School (CUBS), Docklands
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