Cork developments

Controversial opinion? I kind of like the derelict buildings on North Main street. Yes, they're in complete **** and it's a disgrace, but they kind of look the good kind of in ****. Like you know the ugly people in Hollywood aren't really that ugly? These are like the Steve Buscemi of ugly buildings.

Architects rendering for Good Shepherd, showing integration of the old building

https://goodshepherdlrd.ie/planning-application-drawings/

They were planning that back in 2008 but sadly the economy collapsed.

It would be nice to have alright, for tourists only really though. Realistically the train/bus will be far faster for anything apart from Aghada to Cork, so I don't think it'll pick up many commuters at all.

It would operate a half hourly service, 7am to 10pm daily, 364 days a year, with two of its four ships switching to a tourist offering after the peak morning rush.

I can't see how this all stacks up. Given the 6 knot limit from the city centre to LoughMahon and that they are unlikely to be allowed to run flat out down stream of that (perhaps 20 knots), its going to take more than an hour to do the run to Cobh. Antwerp has a similar system that takes 90 minutes for a similar distance - though admittedly on a river - on 30 minute departures and they have 8 or more boats.

One of the articles about the ferries mentions how they would have a 300 passenger capacity, which is 2-3 times what most similar foot passenger river ferries carry - and the little graphic accompanying the route map shows a 100 passenger unit being developed for South Korea. So in terms of "mass transit" - it could move anything between 200 and 600 people per hour in either direction at peak.

There's also the non-inconsequential matter of installing up to 17 wheelchair compatible pontoons, capable of safely loading dozens of passengers at a time. And (hopefully) integrating with local public transport

It's nice to see alternative approaches to public transport but it just seems to be trying to deliver too many things in too many places. A less ambitious version might be more realistic.

Yeah this feels like a complete non-starter

There'll be a bit more time lost for the five (?) stops enroute but you're probably right - for that section the boat could be faster, but only if you live adjacent to a stop. Once potential passengers have to travel any distance to the ferry, you've probably lost any advantage. The best option would be the continental approach where you cycle / scoot to the ferry, bring your bike on board and cycle to your ultimate destination at the other end.

And hopefully as the other public transport measures take effect over time, the delays for land-based transport should reduce where as the boat will never get any quicker.

You'd never know there was a housing crisis based on the decisions coming out of ABP:

The plans consisted of 123 apartments and a creche at Old Fort Road, Ballincollig, with the development to be made up of 84 two-bed apartments and 39 one-bed apartments. However, An Bord Pleanála noted issues in terms of this proposed dwelling mix.

The Cork City Development Plan 2022 notes that a minimum of 25% of units in an apartment development of this size should be three bed, and a minimum of 10% should be four bed. A maximum of 25% can be one bed and a maximum of 40% can be two bed.

It looks like the developer also messed up, but could ABP not have gone back and asked them to submit the missing file, rather than rejecting the application outright?

However, the planning inspector said that as a Statement of Housing Mix was not submitted and the issue was not been addressed in the applicant’s Material Contravention Statement, meaning they were “precluded from granting permission”.

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41642164.html

And not first the first time, they've rejected an application because it's 'visually obtrusive'. No doubt, the unobstructed views will be of great comfort to those without accommodation…

Plans for a massive development of over 800 new homes in Cork city docks including a 35-storey apartment block have been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/developmentconstruction/arid-41642443.html

https://www.echolive.ie/nationalnews/arid-41642590.html

And it took them almost 3 years to make that decision

https://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/case/313277

At first thought it might seem expedient if the additional information could have been requested by ABP but it would probably result in delaying the development even further.

There's a process that has to be followed to the letter of the law. If ABP stepped outside that process, its decision would be open to challenge by judicial review.

The developers are professionals. They need to do a professional job in preparing and submitting a planning application.