Plans to Revitalise Douglas Street and Surrounding Area Open for Public Consultation

• A public consultation is set to open for a significant project aimed at enhancing the public realm around Douglas Street, Mary Street, and White Street.
• The scheme, led by Cork City Council, seeks to restore the area's distinctive ‘village within the city’ character. Local residents and businesses are invited to view the plans and provide feedback.

Cork City Council has announced that the Part 8 planning public consultation for the Mary Street, Douglas Street, and White Street Public Realm Enhancement Scheme will officially open from Thursday, 12 June 2025.

The ambitious project represents a major investment in one of Cork's most historic quarters. It aims to tackle long-standing issues in the area, which is currently characterised by narrow streets, high traffic volumes, and a challenging environment for pedestrians. The goal is to create a more inviting and accessible space for everyone who lives, works, and visits there.

Proposals for the transformation have been developed following several rounds of earlier consultations with the community, including open days held at Nano Nagle Place in September 2024. The feedback gathered has been instrumental in shaping the current designs.

The enhancements are extensive and aim to rebalance the area in favour of pedestrians and community life. Key elements of the scheme include:

• The creation of a new neighbourhood pocket park at the eastern end of Douglas Street.
• The conversion of a section of Douglas Street, between Mary Street and Dunbar Street, into a shared active travel facility with access for emergency vehicles only.
• Significant traffic management changes, including new one-way systems on several streets and the creation of cul-de-sacs on Abbey Street and a portion of Travers Street.
• An upgrade of Red Abbey Square, which involves removing railings around the historic Red Abbey Tower and introducing enhanced landscaping and lighting.
• Wider footpaths, new pedestrian crossings, contraflow cycle lanes, street furniture, extensive tree planting, and the undergrounding of all overhead cables.

This project is a long-held ambition to improve the South Parish, one of the oldest inhabited parts of the city with settlements dating back to the 10th Century.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to view the detailed plans and speak with the design team at two further public consultation open days. These will be held at Nano Nagle Place on:

• Friday 20 June 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Friday 4 July 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Full details and drawings will be available on Cork City Council’s consultation portal at https://consult.corkcity.ie from 12 June. Submissions and observations on the plan will be accepted until Monday, 25 August 2025.

Following the consultation period, the scheme will be presented to Elected Members of Cork City Council for their consent later this year, with construction anticipated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027.