On 20–21 May 2025, the Southern Regional Assembly welcomed project partners and stakeholders from across Europe to Cork City for the second interregional study visit of the PROXIMITIES project. The two-day programme offered participants the opportunity to explore how Cork and the wider Southern Region of Ireland are advancing inclusive urban development through community-led placemaking, sustainable housing, and strategic planning.
The visit showcased good practices aligned with PROXIMITIES’ core themes of accessibility, liveability, and connectivity, and provided a platform for knowledge exchange among local and international stakeholders.
Exploring Local Innovation in Urban Development
The study visit began with a welcome from the Lord Mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle, followed by a visit to Ballincollig — Ireland’s 2024 Tidiest Town and Tidiest Large Urban Centre — where delegates were welcomed by Senator Garret Kelleher. Participants toured Ballincollig Regional Park with members of the Tidy Towns Committee and Cork City Council staff, learning about the town’s biodiversity initiatives and community-driven approach to regeneration. The group also visited the Ballincollig Allotments, recognised as the hub of the Tidy Towns Committee’s activities and a vibrant example of environmental stewardship. The delegates also visited Barrack Square and Ballincollig Town Centre. where they met with Michael Kelleher, Operations Director at O’Flynn Group, who provided insight into the private sector’s role in local development and placemaking.
The study visit continued to Arus Mhuire, an age-friendly rightsizing scheme in Blackrock delivered by Cork City Council and managed by Tuath Housing. The scheme provides homes for people aged 60 and over who wish to downsize from private housing into a more accessible and supportive environment. To mark European Neighbours Day, delegates were warmly welcomed by residents, representatives from Tuath Housing and Cork City Council’s Rightsizing team, along with Councillor Terry Shannon.
Placemaking in Peripheral Urban Areas
On the second day, delegates took part in a masterclass on Designing Peripheral Urban Spaces: Sustainable Placemaking at Nano Nagle Place, facilitated by the project’s Advisory Partner, the Erasmus Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics. The session featured presentations from Mārcis Rubenis (FREE RIGA), Sharon McDonnell (Cork City Council), and Eszter Mórocza-Tavas (Municipality of Veszprém), and concluded with a keynote address by award-winning architect and Head of the Placemaking Unit in Cork County Council, Giulia Vallone. The presentations highlighted diverse strategies for reviving underused spaces and improving urban resilience.
The afternoon continued with presentations from Áine Whelan of the Southern Regional Assembly and Krissel Alcaraz of ARUP, which set the stage for a discussion and Q&A session on the development of the “10-Minute Town” concept by Dominic Walsh (Southern Regional Assembly) and Krissel Alcaraz. The concept promotes compact, service-rich urban forms and supports proximity-based planning. Delegates also heard from Lorcan Griffin of Cork City Council on the North Blackpool Kilbarry Framework Plan — one of the Southern Regional Assembly’s case study areas within the PROXIMITIES project.
Throughout the visit, participants reflected on the importance of community participation, integrated planning, and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing the needs of peripheral urban areas. The good practices presented in Cork will support partners across Europe as they refine local policy instruments and promote more sustainable, inclusive, and connected places.
