Planning permission is granted for a controversial, car-free apartment block on the site of the former Glenanaar Bar

Planning permission has been granted for a controversial, 26-dwelling apartment complex on the site of the former Glenanaar pub on the Boreenmanna Road.

The plan includes seven studio apartments, 10 one-bedroom apartments, and nine two-bedroom apartments, in one three-storey and one four-storey block, with a communal garden.

Significantly, the development will be car-free and will not provide and parking spaces.

Under City Council bye-laws, tenants would not be entitled to residential parking permits for the nearby streets.

"This non-provision of parking is considered appropriate given the highly sustainable location characteristics of the apartment scheme," the developers said.

Instead, the developer is providing 48 covered bike parking spaces.

"It is expected that a significant number of residents will be willing to cycle to school or work with safe links and secure cycle parking in place."

It is understood to be one of the first apartment developments in Cork not to provide car parking spaces.

However, the proposal has been met with significant local opposition with the planning application attracting more than 110 objections and submissions.

A public meeting as also held in the area to discuss the project.

Many residents said they feared the lack of parking on the site would result in residents of the new complex parking in nearby streets.

"This development has the potential to bring fifty plus extra cars to an already problematic area for residential parking," one objection stated.

Residents also objected to the amount of housing saying the application amounted to 'over-development' as well as the height of the buildings.

However, despite the opposition, the application, which was made by Denis McBarron, was this week given the go-ahead by planners in City Hall. The permission includes 22 conditions.