2.3 | Cork Harbour
As Europe’s largest natural harbour, Cork Harbour is a special character area and strategic asset. It is a location sharing port activities, strategic employment uses, marine research, energy generation, tourism, heritage and residential communities in an environment with sensitive ecosystems and natural amenities (Cork Harbour SPA). Strategic marine sector facilities in the harbour area include Tier 1 Port of Cork, dry dock facilities at Cobh, Marino Point, Irish Naval Service Haulbowline, National Maritime College of Ireland, MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy and Whitegate - Ireland’s Energy Park. Significant tourism and cultural attractions include
Cobh, Spike Island (a No 1 in Europe award winning attraction) and Fort Camden Meagher. The remediation of Haulbowline will provide an additional harbour recreational amenity. Fishing harbours, marinas, harbour greenways, characterful towns in outstanding natural settings all set the location apart as unique for the Region. Balanced with the protection and enhancement of the natural environment, heritage and communities of the harbour area, it is evident that the multi-sectoral assets have potential for Maritime Cork to be a key catalyst and driver for economic growth. There is an opportunity, to put in place a framework to guide the sustainable future management of different uses in the Cork Harbour area, including driving the role of strategic economic assets, while protecting the sensitive ecosystems and designated natural habitats.
Cork MASP Policy Objective 3
c. The initiative under Part (b) shall address opportunities of a waterfront city and the harbour area, the opportunities for harbour communities, enhanced transport and public transport connections, Tier 1 Port activity, industries, clusters of economic specialism, research and innovation in the marine economy, renewable energy, ecology and habitat protection, ecosystems services, tourism, greenways and blueways inter alia. d. The delivery of plans and projects in the Cork Harbour area as a result of this objective shall be subject to quality site selection processes that consider environmental constraints and undertake environmental assessments including EcIA, SEA, EIA and AA processes as appropriate.
Cork Harbour a. To promote Cork Harbour as a unique and strategic asset in the Cork Metropolitan Area and the Region and seek investment in the sustainable development of projects that will strengthen the potential for Cork Harbour to be a first mover in Marine Spatial Planning, a significant driver for economic growth, balanced with the protection of the harbour’s ecology and natural habitats (Cork Harbour SPA). b. To seek a specific planning framework initiative through the Core Strategies of Local Authority Development Plans as appropriate to guide the sustainable future management of different uses in the Cork Harbour area, including strategic economic uses, while protecting the sensitive ecosystems and designated natural habitats.
2.4 | Cork Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan and the Wider Region
As a primary driver of economic and population growth in the Region, the Cork Metropolitan Area can drive and support economic growth in other locations. There is a close network and functional relationship between the city, metropolitan area and settlements such as the ring towns of Mallow (a Key Town) Bandon, Kinsale, Fermoy, Macroom and Youghal and other
towns in North and West Cork including Mitchelstown, Charleville, Kanturk and Clonakilty. The RSES supports the sustainable, employment-led growth, consolidation and enhancement of services for such settlements (see Chapter 3). Chapter 4 Strong Economy - Innovative and Smart, Chapter 6 Connectivity and the objectives of the Cork MASP seek progress in these areas, especially for enhanced connectivity between each Metropolitan Area, to the Atlantic Economic Corridor and Ten-T Corridor, to enable the efficient economic movement of freight to and from our ports and airports.
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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