Young rappers and hip hop enthusiasts from the Kabin Studio in Hollyhill and representatives from the Migrant Centre at Nano Nagle Place at Fitzgerald Park for the launch of the draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028. Photo: Alison Miles/OSM PHOTO

City callout for submissions

Leesiders are being encouraged to make a submission to Cork city’s draft development plan which was published on Monday.

The plan provides an overarching framework to help shape the transformation of the city over the next six years by supporting the creation of 20,000 homes and 31,000 jobs.

The plan called Our City, Our Future provides, City Hall says, a “transformative blueprint” for Cork as the city embarks upon an exciting phase of growth and change with sustainability, quality of life, social inclusion, and climate resilience at the plan’s core.

Eight weeks of public consultation began on Monday and Cork City Council is calling on residents, workers, the business sector, community, sporting and voluntary groups in the city and beyond to have their say on the 2022-2028 plan.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher said: “This is the first of three critically important city developments plans for Cork. It is the first of three such plans that will provide a pathway to achieving a 50 per cent increase in population by 2040 so that Cork grows as a city of international scale.”

“This plan aims to ensure that as our population increases substantially, we become an even better place to live. It is centred around supporting housing, economic development, public realm renewal, transport, more amenity spaces and community services in existing built-up areas, using the internationally-recognised 15 minute city model.”

Chief Executive Ann Doherty said: “This plan is significant in many ways; not least it is the first local policy-based expression of the ambition for Cork contained in Project Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework. The plan follows widespread listening and engagement with stakeholders in the first round of public consultation. The plan’s rationale is further informed by a suite of evidence-based studies on the various opportunities and challenges facing the city.”

The closing date for submissions is 4 October and the draft plan can be viewed at corkcitydevelopmentplan.ie.

The public can have their say at consult.corkcity.ie.