Development Plan Chapter 9 Built Heritage - Cork City Council

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POLICY 9.28
Local and Neighbourhood Centres of Historic Character
To protect and enhance local and neighbourhood centres of historic character which have a
distinctive ‘sense of place’ by:
- Protecting and enhancing the existing distinctive architectural character of these areas,
discouraging insensitive alterations and promoting new development sympathetic to their
character where appropriate;
- Promoting and enhancing their commercial vitality and vibrancy by supporting business
functions of appropriate scale, form and design;
- Promoting both public and private investment in the high quality refurbishment of existing
buildings and public realm.
9.56 In order to achieve this policy, the City Council will:
• Promote the creation of a stronger “sense of place” with an emphasis being placed on their history,
notable buildings and amenity areas etc;
• Consider the development and use of special signage to mark the boundaries of the villages to
strengthen the sense of place;
• Protect and improve the public realm e.g. retaining existing historic street furniture, developing
amenity areas etc;
• Implement traffic calming measures within these areas to reduce the impact of traffic on residential
amenity and enhance their attraction as local/neighbourhood centres.
Street Improvement Areas
9.57 Street Improvement Areas include a number of older residential areas, which have been identified as
having street frontages and groups of buildings of architectural interest. It will be an objective of the City
Council to protect the character, use and amenities of these groups of buildings and streets. Street
Improvement Areas are illustrated on the Zoning Objectives Maps in Volume 2 of the Plan.
POLICY 9.29
Street Improvement Areas
- To promote the protection of residential uses within these areas. Local service and other
uses will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances and where they do not detract
form the areas character.
- Protect the physical and architectural character of these areas, avoiding insensitive
alterations which would detract from their character.
Individual Houses of Character
9.58 There are some examples of vernacular or
historic properties such as former farmhouses,
cottages, stone walls which all predate
suburban development and contribute to the
character of the area. There will be a
presumption against demolition of individual
properties of vernacular or historic interest
that contributes to the character of an area.
9.59 There are also individual houses of character in
suburban areas/villages. They may not be
worthy of individual protection but they do
contribute to the character of an area, and
demolition or loss would have a negative
impact.
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