Expanding
despite the floods

The city of Cork needs to accommodate its growing population. Regenerating its brownfield areas, like the industrial Docklands, is one of the steps the city is considering.

Building houses in these areas, however, comes with risks as they are prone to tidal and river flooding—risks that keep growing with climate change.​

This poses a challenge to the local government:​

How can the city of Cork expand and regenerate while ensuring the long-term protection for its residents?​​
Illustration of a heatwave strategy
Cork City
Cork is a city of more than two hundred thousand people and is the second largest urban population in Ireland.
— Flood
Case Study 1

SolutionCork used a combination of REACHOUT’s climate services to find answers

Understanding the risk

FloodAdapt tool

With the FloodAdapt tool, Cork identified current and future river and coastal flood risks and assessed suitable adaptation solutions to address them. ​

Increasing the height of flood walls, enlarging washlands upstream, building flood-proof housing and a tidal barrier are some of the solutions that the city has considered.

Figure 1:
Flood risk map of Cork – produced by Deltares ​ ​
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Priority

Turning data into actionable priorities

Leaving no one behind

To understand which population groups are most affected, the city used the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) tool to combine flood exposure with social vulnerability maps.

This analysis revealed the vulnerability of different groups and helped the city identify where action is most needed.

Figure 2:
Flood risk map superposed with Social Vulnerability Index in Cork - produced by Deltares and UCC
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Action

Defining a plan of action

The Climate Resilient Development Pathways (CRDP)

Ready to develop an action plan, Cork used the Climate Resilient Development Pathways (CRDP) to align needs with opportunities.

Identifying synergies and conflicts among adaptation, mitigation, and urban development projects, the government was able to prioritise solutions now and in the future based on high tidal and storm surge levels and river peak flows.

Figure 3:
Key decisions over time for different future strategies for Cork city - produced by Deltares.

The strategies (1,2,3) integrate adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development (Langendijk et al. under review).

Strategically planning next steps

The CRDP tool highlighted a critical decision about what to do next. Should the city further regenerate and protect brownfields like the Docklands—located in flood-prone areas—to maintain a compact city? Or should it focus on building on higher grounds at the edges of the city?

This decision will determine the level of investment the city of Cork must commit to for long-term flood adaptation measures. This includes funding for interventions like NBS and tidal barriers, both of which require ongoing maintenance.

Insights for other local governments​

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The use and tailoring of tools in Cork required collaboration between local departments and research partners. For other cities looking to implement these and similar tools, this collaboration helps local governments take ownership and use them effectively over time. It ensures that cities gain:
This collaboration ensured the data was not just technical but actionable, aligning with the cities' broader goals.​

Insights on the ground

Hear from city officers, tool developers, and experts driving change.
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