Cork City Council has published a proposed variation to the Cork City Development Plan aimed at increasing the amount of land zoned for residential development in line with national guidance issued last year.

The Government's first revision of the National Planning Framework, released in April 2025, set new national housing growth targets.

This was followed in July 2025 by 'National Planning Framework Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines for Planning Authorities'.

Under these guidelines, all local authorities are required to zone additional land for housing to meet the revised national targets.

In response, Cork City Council carried out a detailed capacity audit of existing zoned lands and assessed unzoned sites that could support sustainable, transport‑oriented growth of the city.

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A non‑statutory consultation was also undertaken in late 2025, inviting landowners and homebuilders to suggest suitable locations for new residential zoning.

The outcome is Proposed Variation No. 3 of the Cork City Development Plan, which would zone 270 hectares (approximately 670 acres) for residential purposes up to 2030, when a new Development Plan is due. The variation also proposes amendments to the rural housing policy.

Details of the proposed variation, including text and mapping changes across several chapters and maps of the Cork City Development Plan 2022–2028, have been published today.

Submissions from any interested party are invited until 5pm on 13 May 2026 via the council's consultation portal or in writing. Note: Cork City Council cannot accept email submissions.

Copies of the proposed variation and supporting documents can be inspected from 15 April 2026 to 13 May 2026 inclusive: online at www.corkcitydevelopmentplan.ie or at consult.corkcity.ie; at the Planning Counter, City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork, from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday; and at the City Library (with branch libraries providing access on request).

Children, and groups or associations representing the interests of children, are particularly encouraged to make submissions.

All submissions will be published on the council's website (http://consult.corkcity.ie) and will form part of the statutory Chief Executive's Report, which will also be published on the website.