Protest planned for stalled northside development
A protest will take place in Cork city on Saturday calling for answers as to why work on a large-scale housing development has been stalled for over four years.
The Phase 2C portion of the City Northwest Quarter Regeneration project, a 24 house development on Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny, has been stalled since 2020. The unfinished site has become an eyesore and a source of great frustration to locals.
Sinn Féin TD for Cork North-Central, Thomas Gould said he and his party colleagues have been raising the issue at every level for over 18 months but remain in the dark regarding the reason for the delay and how long more it will last.
“The people of Knocknaheeny deserve better and we are asking them to join us on Saturday to sound a loud clear message that this is not good enough,” said the deputy.
Saturday’s protest will begin at 12pm at the Kilmore Road site in Knocknaheeny opposite the water tower. Deputy Gould continued: “We know that the community are angry, and we know how important regeneration is. It is now time to let the council hear our voice and know that we will not continue to wait as half-built homes sit idle in our community.
“We are in the middle of a housing crisis and delays like this are just compounding the problem,” he added.
The overall City Northwest Quarter Regeneration project, which promised the phased delivery of almost 400 new homes, was announced in 2011 and got underway close to a decade ago. As of the end of last year, Phase 3 was reported to be 75% complete.
The City Northwest Quarter Regeneration project has been discussed for over 20 years continued Mr Gould. “Delay after delay means we have only seen 99 homes built since construction started in 2014. 2C is a prime example of how the regeneration project is failing the people of Knocknaheeny,” he added.
Deputy Gould vowed to continue pressure going forward and said he and his colleagues had been left with no other option but to stage Saturday’s protest.
He said: “It is absolutely vital that we see the community out for this protest. It's time to make it clear that we need delivery, and we will not wait. We cannot wait another generation for regeneration.”
Sinn Féin Cllr for Cork City North-West, Mick Nugent, recently submitted a question to the Chief Executive of Cork City Council, Ann Doherty, seeking an update on the project.
“Unfortunately, once again we were not given adequate information,” said Cllr Nugent. “While we understand that there are legal issues precluding full disclosure of information, people want answers, and they deserve to know when they can expect builders to be back on site.”
His ward colleague, Sinn Féin Cllr Kenneth Collins, added: “At the end of the day, the people of Knocknaheeny need the regeneration but it is happening at snail’s pace.
“In the years since the Masterplan, we have seen 99 homes built under regeneration. That is significantly less than what people expected and when they see a building site, a key phase of the regeneration, sitting idle, you can’t be surprised that they’re angry.
“2024 must be the year that we see homes delivered in 2C and a significant ramping up of delivery across the regeneration.”