The final step has been taken in the publication of a new County Development Plan 2022-2028.
Cork County Council has adopted the new Cork County Development Plan, the culmination of a 2-year statutory review process. The new plan streamlines planning policy in the county by replacing the current County Development Plan, as well as the 8 Municipal District Local Area Plans and the 9 former Town Council Plans, resulting in eighteen statutory planning documents becoming one.
The new plan is also the first for the new administrative area of Cork County. The plan is set to provide full alignment between countywide strategic issues and local policies and the new streamlined format will also enable the County Development Plan to be more accessible to the public, combining all statutory planning policy.
Marking the official launch of the Plan, which was adopted on April 25th and came into effect on June 6th, the Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. Gillian Coughlan said:
“The adoption of the Cork County Development Plan is a testament to the determination of the Elected Members and Executive of Cork County Council to deliver for the communities of Cork County. The Plan supports the creation of attractive and vibrant places to live, affording people the opportunity to live closer to where they work, revitalising our towns and villages while safeguarding our environment”.
Prepared during challenging times, the Covid 19 pandemic required the Council to explore new ways of working while consulting with members of the public and stakeholders. This included hosting on-line meetings, a public webinar and facilitating on-line submissions.
Set out over six volumes, the County Development Plan covers a range of topics including Placemaking, Housing, Marine Spatial Planning, Water Services, Energy, Transport, Green Infrastructure, Cultural Heritage, Biodiversity and Climate Change as set out in Volume One Main Policy Material. Volume Two lists the heritage assets of the County including the Record of Protected Structures. Settlement specific information and zoning is contained in Volumes Three (North Cork), Four (South Cork) and Five (West Cork). The Plan is also supported by a map browser, a user-friendly tool that displays the detailed maps of the Plan and facilitates spatial analysis.
