Chapter 7
Economy and Employment
Issues / Recommendations / Observations
Sub. No.
Chief Executive’s Response & Recommendation
workers to permanent employees to contracted employees. • The CDP has to address the disparity between the Northside & Southside of the city in terms of economic development and strategies should follow in terms of the imbalance, progress on road infrastructure and public transport to complement any such strategies is vital in this. This submission addresses several aspects of the Draft Plan. Issues pertaining to Chapter 7 are made in relation to retail and are summarised as follows: There is a lot of commentary on retail in Cork but little in the way as to how the Council will proactively steer it to ensure a vibrant city centre mix. The mandatory Joint Retail Study is unlikely to reaffirm anything different on retail hierarchies and guidance on suitable locations for various types of retail. Spatial planning requires a more proactive response than land use planning to such a live issue. It should be noted that much of the retail closures in the last few years are related to an over-reliance on long-mis- managed UK multiples that had little to do with relatively buoyant trading conditions in Ireland. Lower levels of vacancy in similar European city centres are as a result of streets that are typically pedestrianised and accessible by public transport with return to a mix of online and bricks- and mortar personal ‘experience’. A Kildare Village type-development within or immediately
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The Draft Plan acknowledges challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the growth of online shopping under Sections 7.79-7.81. Further policies on vibrant, mixed-use centres are set out in Sections 7.95-7.98 and its corresponding objectives, such as the importance of the public realm, supporting a vibrant City Centre along with supports for outdoor dining and cultural events. Cork City Council remains committed to the preparation of a Joint Retail Study and Strategy for the Cork Metropolitan Area in conjunction with Cork County Council, which may further consider the provision of outlet centres such as that referred to. More detailed policy on the City Centre is set out in the Draft Plan in Chapter 10 Key Growth Areas and Neighbourhood Development Sites, which also supports the pending City Centre Revitalisation Plan, which will provide more focused actions to promote the City Centre. Recommendation: No change
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