A public exhibition on a multi-million euro Draft Plan that will change the face of Cork, has been unveiled.

The exhibition, which ran for a week at the Millennium Hall in City Hall, showcased a plan that will see the city’s riverside lands transformed over a 20-year period and is designed to give developers a blueprint for planning.

"The plan has been prepared to provide a detailed planning and development framework for the South Docks area which covers most of the lands between Albert Quay and Church Avenue in Blackrock and between the River Lee to the Blackrock Road. It will provide certainty regarding the potential of the area and the steps needed to be taken to make the vision a reality," said Lord Mayor Donal Counihan.

"It is envisaged South Docks will de developed as an urban quarter based around a District Centre and two Neighbourhood Centres served by quality public transport.

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"The Draft Plan sets out proposals in relation to zoning, movement and access, building height, open space, conservation of buildings and other heritage elements, community, medical and education facilties. Guidance on floor levels and preliminary flood protection proposals are also included," he added.

City Manager Joe Gavin, speaking at the opening, said: "We are working closely with all the stakeholders and now with two formal planning applications for major developments due in the coming months, one for the Eastern End and one for the Western End, and having regard to the amount of work that has been done, the time has come to formalise proposals for targeted tax incentive supports from government for the regeneration of Cork Docklands."

Project Manager David Bossonet presented the Draft Plan, and said: "This represents a wonderful opportunity to create a vibrant urban quarter using the fantastic riverside geography that is unique to Cork City."

The Lord Mayor paid tribute to the Docklands Policy Committee and its Chair, Cllr Damien Wallace, for the work put in to bringing the Draft Plan to Council and acknowledged the consultants who prepared the Draft Plan: Brady Shipman Martin Planning and Landscape Architecture Consultants, O’Mahony Pike Architects, ILTP Transportation and Traffic Engineers, JODA Consulting Engineers, AKC Chartered Surveyors and Dr Colin Rynne of UCC Archaeology Department and the City Council staff from various Directorates who also played a key role in this process.

(JM)