Cork South Docklands Local Area Plan

As design team leaders, Brady Shipman Martin worked closely with O'Mahony Pike Architects, ILTP, JODA consulting engineers and Cork City Council to provide an urban design, planning and development framework for the South Docks Area. This was compiled into a Local Area Plan adopted by the City Council in February 2008.

The plan envisages a new urban quarter characterised by high quality design; residential, employment and leisure opportunities; and a superb quality of live in a high-density urban setting. The Plan's targets will be achieved through the development of a high density urban quarter which will be based around a District Centre and two Neighbourhood Centres.

The plan sets out zoning, movement and access, building height, open space, conservation of buildings and other heritage elements. Development of the area aims to be designed and built to the highest standards of environmental sustainability.

Brady Shipman Martin also produced an accompanying Public Realm and Landscape Strategy for the South Docks. Major features will include the development of a regional Marina Park, a public walkway along the waterfront and an extension to Kennedy Park.

The plan provides for:

• Strong linkages the River Lee, City and Surrounding Landscape
• Creation of major civic open spaces and attractive streets
• Creation of a hierarchy of connected open spaces

The treatment of the public realm and landscape design has included flood protection and storm water drainage measures. Public open space contributes to the creation of a 'sense of place' and the cultural identity of the South Docks. There are many ways in which this can be achieved including through: the integration of public art into the landscape; events, festivals, performances, neighbourhood celebrations and recreational programs in public spaces; and taking advantage of opportunities to 'tell the story' of South Docks. Landscape design and its responsiveness to people and place, has an important role in this process.