Developers plan 1,300 homes in Cork's south docks

The site is earmarked for 1,325 residential units, half of them one-bedroomed, in 10 buildings ranging from two floors, up to one building with 14 floors, on a site bounded on either side by Monahan Road and Centre Park Road.

Plans for the Cork docklands include a projected 20,000 units in the coming years, on a variety of sites, with no move to date on a previously granted application from Glenveagh Properties for 1,000 apartments on the former Live at the Marquee site, lodged directly to An Bord Pleanála as a strategic housing development in 2021.

This larger-still application from OCP will go to Cork City Council via the revised large residential development [LRD] process.

Residential development is more viable following recent government initiatives such as the Croí Cónaithe Cities Scheme, said OCP Managing Director Brian O’Callaghan.

The company, founded in 1969 by Owen O’Callaghan, has delivered over 7,500 homes in Cork over more than half a century, as well as shopping centres and offices, with other major schemes in London and Dublin. This latest application is coming from Leeside Quays Limited, a subsidiary of O’Callaghan Properties, in a development likely to be worth in excess of €600 million.

According to Mr O’Callaghan: “Cork City Docklands is recognised as having a key national economic development role. Thousands of jobs have already been created in the docklands and it is imperative that residential development runs parallel, otherwise investment momentum will be impacted.” 

He said the project will be "an exemplar" for the 15-minute city as it will be highly sustainable and served by efficient public transport. 

"It will be, in every sense, an example of the emerging new city and will make an even bigger statement on the attractiveness of docklands as a location to work and live," he said.

Details of any phasing and design team are not yet publicly disclosed, but OCP said if planning was granted work could start on a phase of up to 300 by mid-2024.

The proposed development is for 658 one-bed units, 465 two-bed units and 202 three-bed/duplex, across 10 buildings, all over a single basement.

It also includes provision for over 25,000 sq m of public open space and public realm, with service retail, convenience store, cafes, two-storey creche, parcel centre and a gym.

The site is one of the largest in single ownership in Cork’s future-planned docks, north and south, after the Marina Commercial Park, while masterplans are also being drafted for extensive Port of Cork lands on the north quays at Tivoli.

News of the planning application being lodged and the mixed tenure nature has been welcomed by  Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO.

“This project is representative of the positivity we are seeing from our members but what’s needed now is to build on this momentum and remove any stumbling blocks that exist to development here in the city where planning permission for nearly 8,000 units remain unactivated”, Mr Healy added.

“More announcements of this nature are needed in the near future and addressing the challenges around apartment viability, which were raised in a recent meeting we held with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, will result in the step change we need to get boots on the ground and cranes in the sky”.

“The redevelopment of Cork South Docks will rejuvenate the city centre and this planned development in the area complements this period of transformation for Cork city as imagined by O’Callaghan Properties whose vision will breathe new life into the city" Mr Healy continued.

“The city must be ready and equipped to embrace this vision, and it is yet another reason to advance our public transport improvement plans, accelerate the timeline for Cork’s light rail and make the 15-minute city concept a reality in Cork," said the Chamber CEO.