Chapter 10 I Key Growth Areas & Neighbourhood Development Sites
Retail and Ancillary Services 10.293 Tower does not require additional retail floorspace during the Plan period and the existing shopping centre and the nearby Cloghroe village centre will continue to be the principal location for future retail development and will continue to be limited to small scale convenience uses. Education 10.294 There is one primary school, located in Cloghroe that serves Tower. The nearest secondary schools are in Blarney and Ballincollig. Cloghroe National School has a current enrolment of 530 pupils with 45 teaching and ancillary staff. The current and future capacity of this school will be a determining factor in the number and phasing of all future housing developments. Recreation and Open Space 10.295 Blarney and Tower complement each other with regard to sporting facilities. Blarney United AFC has their main playing facilities in Tower. There is also a Golf Club and a former hotel complex located in the City Hinterland north east of the town. There is a small local park in the centre of Tower. 10.296 The scale of growth in population envisaged may not require significant investment in large scale social infrastructure however there is a need to enhance the quality of life for existing residents through the provision of improved community facilities in the form of a cultural facility, possibly provided jointly with Blarney, improved off-road pedestrian and cycling facilities, improved footpaths and improved children’s play facilities. Enhanced connections to Kerry Pike and Ballincollig will also be examined during the lifetime of this Plan.
The Cork Cycle Network Plan estimates that the future demand flows for commuter cyclists is relatively low for Tower. Potentially 50-60 cyclists might utilise the main corridors to and from the City. However it is considered that there will be significant leisure and amenity benefits to be derived from providing improved cycling links to Blarney. It is proposed to link Tower and Blarney via a shared greenway route, as well as provide a network of cycling routes within the town centre to improve access to schools and other key destinations. Interurban routes are also proposed, which will provide a connection from Tower and Blarney to Cork City Centre. Much of future cycling traffic to and from Blarney and Tower is expected to be tourism and leisure cyclists.
Economy and Employment
10.292 The employment function of Tower is limited. In 2020 1,762 Tower residents were in full time employment with the overwhelming majority commuting to destinations outside the town. There are 426 jobs within the town which represents 0.42% of the City jobs market, 35% of these posts are filled from the local population. These figures represent a net outflow of 1,336 jobs.
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Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 I Volume 1
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