[ARTICLE] Mallow’s population to swell to 30,000

[comcor]

Mallow’s population to swell to 30,000
By Sean O’Riordan
A SENIOR civil servant has revealed that major plans are being drawn up in Mallow to cater for a population of 30,000 within the next 20 years, which is far larger than the National Spatial Strategy suggested.

Tim Lucey, who is an assistant county manager with Cork County Council revealed yesterday that the local authority had already put in train a number of plans to deal with the future.

These include building a new bridge across the River Blackwater, significantly increasing housing, developing southern link roads, creating industrial parks and the possibility of acquiring a Third Level institution.

In addition Mr Lucey also announced that the county council had just purchased more than 13 acres of land on the southside of the town, which will be earmarked for industrial and commercial development.

Mr Lucey said that Mallow, which is designated as a hub town, will grow rapidly. The last census showed the town had a population of 9,789 and 3,219 houses. The National Spatial Strategy proposed a population increase to 17,430 by 2020. But Mr Lucey said the town and its hinterland could hold up to 30,000 within the next 15 to 20 years.

“Mallow should have a vision of developing to the 30,000 mark through phased zoning in the town and its immediate environ,” he said. “In terms of the number of households this means a requirement for approximately 9,600 additional dwellings by 2020 and beyond.”

To achieve this target the council envisages maximising housing density. At present, the average density allowed in Mallow is 23 dwellings per hectare.

This will be increased to 30 to 35 houses per hectare in the coming years. Mr Lucey said there was an additional requirement to zone 150 hectares of land for housing, which is almost double what is provided for at present.

Land is also to be zoned for industrial use, with the aim of creating 10,000 new jobs in the area.

“To put such job numbers into perspective, it is a realistic aim for a 50 acre technology or business park to support 3,000 jobs,” said Mr Lucey.

“Killarney Technology Park has this target and Clonakilty Technology Park is well on the way to achieving 1,000 jobs.”

Mr Lucey, who was addressing local business leaders at a breakfast meeting in the Hibernian Hotel, also spoke about the need for further educational developments.

“The Special Local Area Plan will attempt to address this issue by earmarking a site with the potential for third level facilities, possibly on an outreach basis,” he said.

Sadly, not even a mention of rail.

It does make you wonder at what point a town needs a second railway station. With the population increase here - and even more acutely with the predicted increases for places like Drogheda and Port Laoise - a lot of the new population is going to live a considerable distance from the station.

Should there be buses? cycleways? Or could a second station be justified in some instances.