Public land in Cork could offer 14,050 homes, says LDA report

A report on public land by the Land Development Agency (LDA) has identified 15 parcels of public land in Cork with the potential for the development of up to 14,050 homes.

The report looks at state-owned land, from undeveloped land to sites currently occupied by state bodies, such as the Central Statistics Office (CSO) headquarters in Mahon or sites owned by ESB, the Cork Education and Training Board, Cork city and county council and various government departments.

The first report on Relevant Public Land was produced by the LDA in March 2023.

The LDA is required to report to Government every two years, making this report the first such update, with the next due in 2027.

John Coleman, chief executive of the LDA, explained that the process of updating the report creates a working guide to state-owned land in cities and towns and advises the government on its potential use for affordable housing.

'UNLOCKING FURTHER SITES'

He explained that the land includes state-owned, acquired land and partnership projects with local authorities on land they own.

“A significant amount of state-owned land has already been transferred to the LDA and we are working closely with public bodies to unlock further sites to add to our direct delivery pipeline.” 

The report also classifies the identified land, highlighting the high potential sites that could be developed in the short to medium term.

The Cork sites identified includes four parcels of land classified as “least constrained”, nine “moderately constrained” and two “significantly constrained”.

The report defines least constrained land as being “appropriately zoned”, meaning it is in an area zoned for residential development under planning laws, and well-serviced with the potential for housing development to be completed within five to ten years.

It defines moderately and significantly constrained land as involving constraints and complexities such as existing operational uses requiring consolidation or relocation. This may also involve a need for rezoning and infrastructure investment.

Unlocking the latter two types of land parcel for housing “would require significant work to advance planning and public investment”, the LDA said.

The least constrained land in Cork could deliver between 670 and 920 homes in the short to medium term, while the moderately constrained could deliver 2,970-4,110 in the next seven-15 years and the significantly constrained could deliver 7,220-9,020 in the longer term.

Among the least constrained land is an ESB site at Sarsfield Road, which has the potential for 180-250 homes at a cost of €60,300,000-€77,500,000. The land is identified for transfer to LDA, with a planning application to be submitted this year for the development.

SITES

A Bord na Móna site on Monahan Road could provide 170-220 homes at a cost of €49,500,000-€56,650,000. A Section 53 notice has already been submitted for disposal of this site to the LDA, though a warehouse will need to be relocated.

A Cork Education and Training Board and city council-owned site on Farranlea Road could provide 150-210 homes for €45,600,000-€61,550,000, while county council-owned land at Kilnaglery, Carrigaline could be used for 170-240 homes for €56,800,000-€76,850,000.

Moderately constrained land includes a county council depot near Farranlea, where 360-510 homes could be built for €114,900,000-€164,500,000, and an animal laboratory on Model Farm Road where 140-200 homes could be built for €46,300,000-€65,450,000.

Both sites would require relocation of the current occupants, as would the Capwell Road Bus Depot, where 150-210 homes could be built for €51,100,000-€65,650,000 and land adjacent to Gas Networks Ireland on Rockboro Road, owned by Bord Gáis, which could provide 220-310 homes for €85,000,000-€103,000,000.

If car parking at the North Docks was removed and flood protection measures put in place, 400-520 homes could be built there for €123,500,000-€164,500,000, and if the CSO headquarters in Lough Mahon Technology Park relocated, 300-400 homes could be developed for €83,250,000-€113,400,000.

The former Cork Prison and part of Collins Barracks, as well as the Camp Field on Old Youghal Road, owned by the departments of justice and defense, could be converted to 400-570 homes for €133,000,000-€184,500,000 and 310-450 homes for €109,050,000-€143,250,000 respectively.

Finally, 690-930 homes could be developed at the site of the Marina Generating Station, currently owned by ESB, which would cost an estimated €224,000,000-€265,500,000. The land is identified for transfer to the LDA under 'Housing for All', and a feasibility study has been prepared.

There are two sites considered significantly constrained by the LDA, land owned by the Industrial Development Authority at Kilbarry and Port of Cork Company land at Tivoli Industrial Estate.

These could provide 2,390-2,510 homes for €960m-€970m and 4,830-6,510 homes for €1.59bn-€2.14bn, respectively.

The Port of Cork land has been identified for transfer to LDA, as the body’s 2050 Masterplan includes moving the port from the city to Ringaskiddy in the next 25 years.