[ Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028, Section 15(2) Two-Year Progress Report ]
[OBJECTIVE 8.19] RECORD OF PROTECTED STRUCTURES
There are over 1,200 Protected Structures in Cork City. A survey was carried out for most of the city island area comprising 600 buildings, identifying all structures on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) and the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) and compiling a record of their condition. The protection of buildings on the RPS continues to be managed through the development management planning process.
[OBJECTIVE 8.23] DEVELOPMENT IN ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION AREAS
In 2024 Cork City Council was awarded funding under the THRIVE scheme (under the European Regional Development Fund, or ERDF, and Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme) to develop an Integrated Urban Strategy (IUS) for Shandon, focused on the Shandon ACA, to identify projects and initiatives that promote the conservation and adaptive reuse of the built heritage stock whilst reducing vacancy and dereliction. Further funding under this scheme for a specific project could be forthcoming in 2025.
There are 42 Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) in Cork City taking in around 9,000 buildings. Cork City Council awards grants to assist the owners of historic buildings in ACAs to undertake works necessary to secure their conservation (see Objective 8.18 above in this report). There has been a significant rise in the number of applications in recent years, attributed to the extension of the city boundary in 2019, the addition and extension of several ACAs in the current City Development Plan and outreach work undertaken in 2023 to raise awareness of buildings in ACAs. • In 2022, 38 applications were received, 30 applications were offered grants and 22 projects completed. The grant paid amounted to €99,000. • In 2023, 52 applications were received, 28 applications were offered grants and 12 projects completed. The grant aid paid amounted to €76,232. • In 2024, 55 applications were received, and 23 applications were offered grants. The available fund was € 120,000.
[OBJECTIVE 8.29] HISTORIC TOWN CENTRE SUPPORTS
Cork City Council has conducted several Collaborative Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) Programmes. The aim of the Programme is to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of the critical role that historic town centres play and the wide-ranging impacts that their vitality and viability have on overall socio-economic, environmental and cultural growth and development, and on quality of life for citizens and visitors alike. CTCHCs have been undertaken for Blarney (2023), Tower and Cloghroe (2023), Glanmire (February 2024) and Killeens (March 2024). The historic Blackpool area has been subject to a survey and community engagement by UCC students in 2023 with verification and refinement by Cork City Council to inform the Blackpool Neighbourhood Centre Regeneration Plan, to be advanced in Q3, 2024. Cork City Council supported the Shandon Community Engagement Project and Land use survey in Shandon in 2022, conducted by UCC students. The Shandon area is subject to THRIVE funding (see Objective 8.23 above). A heritage-led town centre framework masterplan for Blarney will be undertaken (see Objective 10.64 below in this report).
The protection of the character of ACAs continues to be managed through the
development management planning process. Cork City Council will produce a guidance document for development within ACAs in 2024. In relation to Cork City Council’s broader scope of work, the Architectural Conservation Officers advise on a wide range of Council projects, strategies and spatial plans.
122
Powered by FlippingBook