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DEPARTMENT OF TOWN PLAN... '...
CORK CORPORATION
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PURPOSE OF 'IHE REPOR1'
'lha p;IrpOse of this report Ls to provide backgrouai :i.nt'onnatian for the planning of aaviraaDentaJ.
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improvemB1:t8 in t.'ba Central Reta:i..l District of the city of Cork. '!be infozmation is BUDDBriaed iD. a
series of map6 1lbi.ch seek to show the exi.Btiilg di.Btribut:iac.s aa:l spatial relat:ianshi.ps 'Which exist :in
that area.
"!be report is di.vided. i1;Lto three secticms. In the first part the Central Reta:i..l D:i.strict is rev:f.ewed
:In its context ldthin the city aai ita re.lati.cmab:ip to :J?Ollcies contained within the City'. Devolopgea.t Pl8n
(1979).
In tbs secoa:d section ; gnq;b:lcal analysis is presented. of the ex:istiDg caoditiOI1B :In the C8D.tral
Ratail Distriot ldth regard to 1aD:i use, trc:lJflportatiao. and anviromlental cOIditiOllS.
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li1 tbe latter section an iD:itial iulentifioaticn of' the major issues is presented.. 1b1s list ~ be
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~ e m & I l t e d dux'J.IJg the more detailed inVestigation Wich wi.ll be oarried cut in the pJ arming stages of the
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CON'lmIS

st\dy Area.
-Context
Retail Frcm:tag8
Retail Dif"f'ereo.tiation
Pedes'tr.1.an PreoUwts.

Foocl ao:l Eo:terta:lrmimt.
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'lraffic Volume
ParkirIg
street Fum.i:tm'e,

PJ gnping :Is8Ue8.
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The primary area considered, in this study is ,that identified as the area to be pedestrianised
under the policy adopted in the C'ity'6 DeveloPllent Plan 1979. This is the area most commonly
identified as the Central retail district of the City of Cork. As such it serves as the retail
foous for the residents of the Oi ty and its sUrrounding area.
!rhe boundary of the area is somewhat fleXible, in that the study will oonoern itsel:f with
areas peripheral to that identif1ed above where such areas are occupied by oontinuous retail frontage
or areas which have functional links With the Central Retail Distriot "
where a major extension of the Central Retail District is planne , I ere a site
baS been identified for. the future construction of a car park compl.ex and North Main Street, a
wsy retail shoppiIlg street which exists adjacent to the Central Retail 11 of these
areas are important to the study presented here.
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CENTflAL
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RETAIL DISTRICT
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CONTEXT
1
This study is initiated vdtbin the context of policies and programme contained within the
Cork Deve lopment :Plan, 1979.
The Development Plan identifies the area Within whioh only retail uses Will be conaidered.
This area defines the oore of the Central Retail District. (see figure 1). The other policies
whioh concern this study are summari zed below.

Figure 2 illustrates the Central Area road network as contained Within the City'S: :Development
Plan 1979. One important objective in the design of this network is to remove through traffic from
the main shopping streets of the Central Retail District so as to create a substantial pedestrian
area.
Area traffic control is a fundamental element in the overall strategy whioh includes improved
.publi c transport, new roads, bridges and parking measures. The basic idea of area traffio control
is that traffio is not allowed onto the road system of. the oontrolled area faster than than road
system is oapable of dealing with it. The control areas will be introduced in stages. When the
policy is implemented, and buses \Vill be allowed to ent er these uncongested areas Without ha!ing
to queue. -7 "T L " L' Tt v Si 40w \. d b- r- (. '-- t:... 10" u...-..... C--.
Parking control by regulation of the type and number of parking spaces and of the chargee made,
forms another important part of this strategy. The supply of long stay parking will remain roughly
oonstant , while there should be an increase of approximately one-quarter in the amount of short
term park:l.ng. It is envf.eaged that about 1600 additiona.l spaces will be prOVided in multi-atorey
car parks. Up to 600 on-street spaces could be prOVided by extending the disc zone. About 600
spaces are likely to be lost in the oourse of pedestrianisation end rerou:1iing traffio. The proposed
parking polioy is summarized below.
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System
spaces

Short-stay spaces

1976
:Plan (1991)
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1500 -
500
460
1460
1960
1960
200
200
2900
3650
3100
3850
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DEVELOPMENT I=iLAN ";
TRAFFIC PROPOSALS
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Improvement
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The improvin8 the environmontal quality of the City's Central Retail"Distriot lies
in segretat vehioularr and pedestrian traff'io 1n this area of high actiVity.--
The City' s Development Plan proposes the introduction of pedestrianisation sohemes in the
area, leading eventually to the creation of a subbtantial pedestrian area oentred on Patriok Street
as shown in Figure 1. The greater part of the proposals are dependent on the of additional
off-street parking to replace spaces lost in the oourse of pedestrianisatioDlf lrowever , there are
areas Vlhioh are particularly SUitable for early pedestrianisation. Identifying these Will be one
of the purposes of this study.
Seoondly, it is identified within the Development Plan that paving, landsoaping and street
furniture of the pedestrianised streets and ot:):ler parts of the City centre Will require oareful
desi.8n 1n order to oreate pleasant and attractive traffio free preoincts. It is proposed that buses
..11 oontinue to use Patriok Street and suitable provision for vehicular access to pedestrian
areas will be required.
It is to be hoped that this exeroise will prOVide the opportunity for the City centre to be
planned in a war whioh will give it a co-ordinated strong identify in the minds of the residents
of the City.
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There are no hard and fast rules for definillg the, central Retail Distriot. Two oriteria
however .are important in the definition of the area. First it should be an area of almost oontinuous
reta:Ll frontage thus offering few breaks 1n w1ndow display for the passing shopper. Secondly,
it should be limited 1n area to that whioh can be' easily visited by a shopper on.foot. Thus it is
unlikely that the laden shopper Will be CCimfortabl.e traversing the full distanoe on foot from
the eastern end of Patrick Street to the nor-thernvend of North Ma:1n Street. To try and develop
this area as a Central Retail District would be to allow the area to develop to a lower 1ntenaity
then is beneficial to the promotion of a d1st1notive oentral shopping area. '
The heart of the City is to be found along Patriok Street and Ol1ver Pltmkett Street,
WlSt at Pembroke Street. Off these two spines it oan also be conSidered to inolude
Winthrop Street, Cook Street, Prinoes Street and Academy Street. At the western

end of Patrick Street it oan be consf.der-ed to include part of Grand Parade and part of 'Paul St.
Castle Street can be mtJre proptre cClls1dered as a l1nk between the Central Retail District and
the North Main Street shoppiXlg area.
Por the most part retailing is conrmed to the ground floor of these frontages With only
the major stores extending their retail floor space to the first and in some cases the
seoond floor.
The shop fronts along :Patrick Street provide an :!npr es s i ve facade waver unfortunately
the ground floor facings have generally divoroed themselves from the facades which can be seen on
the upper storeys.
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DIPJ.i'ERENTIATION
The Central Retail DiStriot does not form a homogenous retai.l enVironment for the shopper.
It can be differentiated into several distinot retai.l' areas each of which has its own oharacter.
It 1s neoessary to recognise these and to make environmental improvements which both enhanoe
and reinforoe the functiCllliDg and appear-ance of these areas.

Centred an the eastern end of Patriok Street it presently comtains four department stores viz.
Roohes, Caahs, Penneys and Dunnes, and one large shopp:1J:Jg arcade Viz. Savoy Centre. In GOlnbination
111s area generates the largest pedestrian flow found in the Central Retail District. The major
problem faoing this area- is :'bhat it is divided by a wide street whioh is oonstantly traversed
by pedestrians.
Represents the major shopping -stJ:: eet in the Central Retail Distriot. The strength of its
is enhanoed b.Y ita limited length and the shape it follows. The
contains most of the larger shops to be found in the Central Retail Distriot. The majority of the '
department stores are looated on street. The only weak par-t of the Street is found at the
Merchants Quay end of the street. An eXisting proposal Will see the redevelopment of this area.
The major problem experienced by shoppers to this area is the need to cross and recross the rosy
width of Patriok Street. The proposal in the Development Plan will see the eventual reduotion in
the Width of the street in order to accommodate only bua traffio.
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!?2 Patriok
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Second to Patrick-Street as a retail area, r differs in oharacter The
area inoorporates Ol:lver Plunkett Street and the retail portions of Pembroke, Winthrop, Cook,
Mar1borough and Prinoes Streets. The area is mainly small specialized shops which rely 00 being
close to the major traffic generators located on Patrick Street nearby. This area also has many
pubs and restaurants and two hotels giving it a lively after hours atmosphere. All of the streets
1n the area are narrow and could be pedestrianised provdded goods loading arangementB can be
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MA.JCA SHOPPING AREAS
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d) Market Area.
This area inoorporates the Corporation owned English Market and Prinoes Street Market and the
newly developed Market :Parade. This area provides an onen trading environment for the selling of
tresh produoe. Its looation provides links between Patr1ck Street, Grand :Parade and Pr1n,oes Street.
This area is to be modernised Vdth the general aim of improving the hygiene and struotural condition
While retaining tbe oharaoter of the complex as far as possible.
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Traditional area of street trading in Cork. from its proximity to the Central Retail
Distriot and to the North Main Street Shopping Area.. :Presently the area is in line beoause of
the inoreasing traffio congestion on Cornmarket Street. The area also suffers from a lack ot organ-
isation of the area fro street trading.
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Peripheral to the central retail district, however, Castle Street forms an important 'l ink
between that area and the strong shopping/diS,triot found on North Main Street. Several smaller
department stores are located in this in general shows less specialization that ,-
tbe shops oontained within the central retail district.
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DEPARTMENT STDRES
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PRECINCTS.

Oity has previously experimented with pedestrianised areas. Several years ego the f'our
streets which run between OliveI' Plunkett Street and Patrick Street were olosed to traftio on 811
. experimental basis. However the concerns of looal traders on these streets 'led to the, experiment
, being a.bandoned on 'all bQt Prinoes Street. S,ince that time both shoppers and retailers have found
there is muoh to be gained from shopping in a. vehicle free environment. The Savoy Centre was ' .
opened as a pedestrian shopping mall in 19 , Market Parade was 0 ened in 19 and Queens Old
Castle pedestrian arcade was opened in late 1979._ The lish Market, :Princes Street Market have
,,- provided a traffio free shopping environment for many traders for many years.
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EXISTING PEDESTRIAN
PRECINCTS
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POOD AND ENTERTAINMENT '
The Central Retail Distriot together vdth providing an almost oontinuous retail frontage, also
oCllta1ns other funotions Whioh are an import811t part of this area. These are the provision of .
restaurants, entertainment and cultural for residents of the oity. It is there
aotiV1ties that give life to tba Central Retail ' area after the shops are olosed.
ID figure 4 is shown distribution of oultural centres, hotels, oinemas, restaurants and -
pubs. Tbe Central Retail District includes the highest concentration of these functions found
anywhere in the city. Unlike the retail sector which is primarily fooussed along Patriok and
Oliver Plunkett Streets the food and drinking establishments are looated primarily along the
narrow streets enend:LDg between Patriok Street and the South Mall. It is in this area that most
after hours aotivity is conoentrated.

of the seven cinemas in the city are located ,in the Central Area and the three
theatres are located on the edge of the Central area. The Tourist Information Offioe and the Central
L1brary together W1th three small art galleries arealso looated in or close to the area. Those
of the major hotels in the city have central looations although the 1_ "; ajority have sought
loec.t1on ro.tside of the area. ",-/
Three nightolubs relatively new arrivalSin Cork /are located in and near the Central Retail
Area.
From the distribu:tion of these functions it would appear that the streets adjacent to Oliver
Plunkett Street provide the greatest opportunities for after hours enterta.1nment seekers.
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'lraf'f'io volunes were measured. in 1976 in preparation. for the analysis 1ohicb. llt8S carried out
BIt part of' the LaJd Use/Transportation Stu:ly of the Greater Cork Area. 'Iba peak avm, :fl.olllS are dIov:1
in :f"i8ure 9 ootwen the major trat':fic intersections entering ao:l exiting :from the Central Retail. '
Di.8 trl.ot.
Whi.1e theBe floW] do not show thavo1t.mes en all streets they do identifY tbe major floll/S enteriDg
the area an an average IOOrn.iog. bearlest fl.0l0IS are taken en the routes pe:riP:1era1 to the Central
RetaU District 1bil.e they are generally quite lOll even OIl Patrick street. 'Iba proposals }resented in
the Cltyt:l Devel.oPD8Ilt Plan will change these fl.0W' bowve.r 1d.l.l. make few to the .
DStwoxk as IreSently :In UBe. ,'!be fio'W:l 'Will be IOOi-e effici aiitiy distributed by the .
of' three new br:Wges, tlIQ to cross the North ani ana to cross the south. cbarmol. '1b.ese 'Wil1
do DUOh 1(0 ooqJediate the now ot traffio the i..91aD:1 fonned by the 'Central Retail D:i.strict
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TRAFFIC FLOW
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Since March 1975 the 'Park SyBtem
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of paii:d.ng ocm:trol 'WaS mtroduced mto the cen'Cral part ;::
of Cork. 'lb.iB consists of paper tickets on discs an Wioh the IOOtoriBt
pmcbes the Dmltb., da;y of the month aDi time of parking. At IJ['eBent tbre are 2,900 parking spaces
dea:f8na.ted UDd..er the system. '!base are cliv1ded mto three zoc.es identified. by the length of'
stq the IOOtorist can at arJY' stop. 'lb.e cEln:tral area :is res'trioted to a Eme bour parking
J.:imit, lt1:Ue areas perj..I:iJ.eral to the C8I1'tral DJ,sjneBs Distriot allow for t'WO or ihr'eebour stays.
At pl:'eSent sbort tenn parkiJ:lg is prov:ided on nearly all of' too reta:U a treats ill the Central
Retail
Lm:ag tenn stCfB are at a praniun. Four1:mD:lred am sixty pay places are presently provided.
in several surf'aoe parking lots. A f'urtl1a:r 1,500 'ree par1dDg spaces are available, ba.lf' of
liUab are 10cated :in pr':i.vate lots.
'lb:lrteeo. ofi'-etreet oar parka are presently operated by the Corporat:i.on. 1hese provide
762 speoes , ReoeD.t cbalges :in the restriot:i.ca::w on these oar parks have been nale to ensur-e
a reBl3<l1Dab1e JUDber of' spaces are available far lacg duration sboppere (200 spaces} vith the
bel arJ.Ce (611 spaces) will be used mainly by oamuters.
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In the CaJ.tral Retail District of: Cork there ,:1.8 a Vr;rLy J.im:ited rang-e of" suah :furn.isbiJJs.
'lbis i.e partly due to the narTO-wnesS of" ma:liY of" the streets, W::rl.cb. presently are forced to acocmoodate
ooth Vehi.al.es D:l pedestriens. The greatest array of: street :f\m:rl.sb:1.t:lgs is f'0UDd OD. the wide pavemEnts
SlXl reserves located along Patrick street anl Grcn:l Par-ede, 'The distr-.lbution of' pt"eSent1y existing
s'treet :fUmi.ture is SboVl. on f'i.gw'e 8. 8el:vi.ces f"ourrl in the ar-ea are teleIiJone k:i.05ks, past boxes,
loIaSte bins aa:l en iD.:fonnation board. Functiooa1.. uses also f'omrl ar-e bus sb.el.te:rs ot: va:rying designs,
balcb.es f'or sitti.IIg co:l bollards for making
'Ihe use street :f'urnishings as a mealS of :improvi.ng the aesthetics of the urban enviroI:ment is
aB yet llmited to the several roomtnents located on the Central reserves of" Parcde cm:l Patrick
street, ao:l to tb.e'reMnt int:roduction of: bri.c!c setts to improve the vi.sua1 appearance of sane of the
pavEIDEJD.t alaog Patrick

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PLANNnp ISSUES,
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'!he exis1;;Lng OOD:titian sUJJDarised. in the 'previous section identif'y a series of planning issues
llbiah III.1at be resolved in ~ plan for the :I..mprovemm.t of the e:fficienoy ani attractiveness a the
Csn:tral RetaU D:l.strlot,
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'lbase issues are i.dantif'ied UDcler a set of systematio hestings,
Cityac.a,pe
(a) 'D1e Ccm:traJ. RetaU District lacks 8DiY on-street focal points Wich provide a strong
imageabi.li.ty Emmg users of the area ag, tollD. squares, natural 'gateWCfS' etc,
(b) '!be C8:ltral Retail Dis1:ri.ot l.a.cks a:q areas 'lhere the pedestr.im. shopper or visitor can
rest in a pleasant attractive eIIVi.ranEmt : away f'rom) but o1ose to I the In.1stle ao:i 'bwItle o-r , '
the sbopp;i.Dg area,
(0) Lack of a ocm:t:l.mwus retail. :f'rcm.tage weaktacs the dra.ld.ng power of sane streets ag. Paul
Street ~ Oliver Phmkett Street east of Wintbrop Street,
(d) GIrouDd f1.oor shop :rBCEdes are oftEm. divorced !'ran the upper floor facEdes giv:Lng a lack of
oontimlity to the streetsoape,
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(0) Direot:i.aDal s:i&Dage preeently is founi:l in ~ areas Were it conf'llcts 14th. tbs flow '
1 of pedestriCllB, .
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(a) Street fumiture presently used to e:cbacoe the streetsoape at present is minimal, 'Iba
:t'undsbiDga Wich do exLat are unoo-ordiDated,
(b) Mid street reserves are .p:'es ently U8ed for pa.rldng and taxi staxis, '!beSEl areas need to
be be1iter organised, .
(d) street ~ in tbs CarDoalimt area is bapugard and visually unsppeal..1.Ilg.
{a) P8Y'&A&Dt surfaces are vi.sually l.D1attiractive atd create mac;y obstacles for pedea1:r.l.&Ja.
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RE.-rAIL.

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WITH P&DC$1"A'AIl;

-rRROINC. IN
IJED Q1:
Tra:f'f'j.o
(a) Pedes"triaD/vebicular oonfliots are :rourld an lIIalY of' the narrow streets . in the Central
lll.sXzri,ot ag. Winthrop, Cook, MarJ.borough., Princes, Oliver PJ.unkett, Paul 'and CastJ.e
streets.
(b) Several vary congested intersections are found wbare more than vebicul.ar streets meet
ag. Gracd Pardde/Patrick. st/Paul st/CastJ.e St and Con:mark.et ) Wintbrop;. st/Ollver PJ.unkatt
and PEIDbroka Street.
ParkiJag
(a.). Poor far pedesirlans f'rom periIiJ,aral ar-eas to the Central Retail .
(b) D.J.egal parld..ng in lanae pt"want use of areas f'or goods delivery.
(0) Lack of abort-stay in aa:l near to the Central. Rata:l.l Distriot.
(cl) D.J.egal park:ing on street reBerY'es causes restricted area available for pedestriana -end
veh1aulaz:- trat'f'io.
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Wide sWPPi:nB' street::; are cii.fficult for pedeetrian.s to croes , Jay waJ.k:i.ng oftensea are
ccmoon C!G'. Grani Paraie aai Patriok Street. :==- c:= -"

Narrow pllVEIIlWlts aDi parked cars force pajeatrians to use the s'Qleet as a pavement in many
cases ag. Wintl:Jrop, OliveI' PJ.l.Ullmtt, Marlborough, Cook and Pri.wes streets.
(a)
(b)
street Fumisb.ings
S'tt'ee.ts, a:i especially pavEIDID.'ta are sul.table locat:i.oDS for ..-arious fUmisb:1.ugs wbich provide
semces far the pedestrian. These, if' arranged properly, can do Dlch to enhance the urban
an to provide esscm.tial services to people us:itlg the az:-ea.
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