Planning permission for the development of 162 residential units and a two-storey creche at Banduff Road in Mayfield has been refused.

The proposed development consists of the construction of 74 two-storey terraced dwelling houses including 19 two-bedroom, 49 three-bedroom and six four-bedroom housing units and 88 apartments including six single storey one-bedroom, 38 single storey two-bedroom and 44 two-bedroom duplex to be provided in 22 three-storey corner blocks.

Pedestrian and cycle access to the North Ring Road was proposed via two pedestrian/cycle bridges across the Glen River with one bridge providing for a connection to an existing pedestrian path between the North Ring Road and the adjacent Barnavara Crescent Estate and one bridge providing for a new pedestrian route and pedestrian entrance to the North Ring Road.

An Bord Pleanála has refused the proposed development planning permission due to the development’s potential to limit route choices on the provision of the Cork Northern Distributor Road as envisaged in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy and in the Cobh Municipal District Local Area Plan 2017.

Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040 (CMATS), published by the National Transport Authority in 2020 sets out an integrated transport planning policy framework for Cork with supporting investment priorities.

Critically important infrastructure identified in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy includes a new distributor road on the northside of Cork city, referred to as the Cork Northern Distributor Road (CNDR).

The Board said that pending determination of the route of the Cork Northern Distributor Road, the proposal is considered to be inconsistent with Site Specific Objective NE-R-13 of the Cobh Municipal District Local Area Plan 2017, and is considered to be premature and inconsistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.