Streetscape

Carrigaline has one main street, with a village character, which the community wishes to maintain, alongside the town’s redevelopment and expansion. The Carrigaline Electoral Area Local Area Plan ‐ outline strategy 2010‐2020 ‐ recognises correctly that the town has serious deficits in amenities, and in social and recreational infrastructure to meet the needs of the community.Specifically relating to Objective no. T‐01 in the 2005 Local Area Plan, an agreed town plan layout and streetscape, along the following lines is sought, in consultation with the Cork County council and the community of Carrigaline. We look forward to working with town planners to revise and detail elements of Objective T‐01

The current streetscape is a single main street, overloaded with traffic though the village, with many empty shop units and derelict premises. The most common feature is grey palisade fencing restricting both pedestrian and car access alike.

A key objective is to completely remove such temporary and ugly fencing, as part of a complete redesign of the town streetscape, to include:

• Additional parallel street, and pedestrian routes to main street 
• A Key provision will be the inclusion of a Pottery Workshop and Centre, located in the town centre reviving the great tradition, on a scale to benefit education, training and tourism. 
• A new town centre on a redeveloped old pottery site (with Town hall, a theatre (the Mill Race Theatre), a Pottery, Arts & Crafts Centre, tourist information, youth cafe, pedestrian friendly village green/fountain, village character retail shops, restaurants and commercial units, to compliment the activities of the existing shopping centres. Sports & Recreation centre, Community Garden and Retirement village to be located in the Natural Park on southern fields, with appropriate footbridge(s) across the river.
• Specifically identified needs to be located in the new town centre are youth guidance and employment, and family support centres

Proposed Townscape Plan with Legend (Click to enlarge)

Specifically to be avoided are multi‐storey commercially dominated developments as witnessed in Blackpool, Mahon and elsewhere in Cork City. The form and scale of recent development steps in Ballincollig on the other hand reflect our requirements.

Images below capture the future, with a prominent town hall, surrounded by much needed facilities, retail and tourist outlets, theatre etc in a pedestrian friendly low‐rise village landscape, compatible with our community needs and past heritage. (Click on images to enlarge)

Specifically excluded in the new town centre will be:
Underground car parking, multi store car parking (to avoid compounding existing traffic congestion), and greater than two/three storey constructions, for commercial, residential, or offices, deemed to be out of character, and out of proportion to a town wishing to maintain its village character and streetscape.

Particular control of the visual aspect in the new town square and existing main street is essential, including shop front and building designs, to maintain the village character. Underground cabling for lighting and electrical is also essential.