Call to include €100m Cork road upgrade in programme for government

The decision prevents Goulding from relocating from its city site in the south docklands and has immediately delayed the delivery of 1,325 apartments on that site. It also prevents the development of a further 500 apartments envisaged for the remaining portion of the site.

Cork Chamber described the R624 as a route of strategic importance for Cork city and county, and for the country, and said its estimated €100m upgrade must become a national priority to ensure that Cork delivers as a thriving second city region and an economic hub for the south of Ireland.

“Now as we enter the phase of government formation, it is essential that it is included in the programme for government and that all stakeholders are aligned on the strategic importance of this route,” chamber chief executive Conor Healy said.

Delivering on this vital infrastructure is not just about supporting the docklands; it’s about ensuring Cork’s future as a driver of national economic growth.

Goulding needed planning approval for the Marino Point facility to allow it to relocate from its Centre Park Rd site in the city’s south docks.

That move would have freed up its city site for residential development, where O’Callaghan Properties (OCP) has planning since last year for a near €600m 1,325-unit residential scheme, pending Goulding’s relocation.

But in refusing planning for the Marino Point project, An Bórd Pleanála expressed concern about the capacity of the R624 road which links Cobh and Great Island to the N25, and in particular the carrying capacity of the narrow 1803-built Belvelly Bridge, the only road access on and off Great Island.

“Furthermore, notwithstanding the road works and measures to improve the carriageway and signage along the R624, the board is not satisfied that these are proportionate to the nature of traffic likely to be generated and that the proposed development would not exacerbate traffic congestion at Belvelly Bridge and be prejudicial to public safety by reason of traffic hazard.”

“It is accordingly considered that the proposed development of such a road dependent facility would be premature pending significant road improvements and would be contrary to the provisions of the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028.” 

Cork County Council has a €100m upgrade plan for the road, which includes the replacement of Belvelly Bridge, and has since 2019 submitted four reports on the scheme to the Department of Transport.

However, it has only completed the first stage of a seven-stage approvals process, and only got €150,000 to advance the scheme last year, prompting fears that it could take at least a decade to deliver.

“It is imperative that further funding is allocated by the Department of Transport in 2025 to allow the project to be advanced,” it said in a statement.

OCP said the issues referenced in the planning appeals board decision must be resolved if Cork docklands is to be developed and its potential fully realised.

“The infrastructure deficit on which the board decision has been based must be addressed as a matter of urgency,” a spokesman said.