Munster Rugby receives approval for revised plans to develop new Centre of Excellence in Cork

REVISED plans submitted by Munster Rugby for its Centre of Excellence in Cork, containing a slight modification to the original application which was approved in 2019, have been green lit.

Cork City Council had previously granted conditional planning permission to the IRFU Munster branch for the construction of an indoor training facility at Musgrave Park.

This new facility at the Pearse Road end of the stadium is set to include a synthetic all-weather playing surface, gymnasium, changing rooms, treatment rooms, storage and office space and staff welfare areas.

The plans also include a new parking area within the site and all other ancillary site works including a ticketing booth and bicycle parking.

The planned new facility is to be built primarily for Munster’s underage and development sides and will also serve the surrounding community and be available to local clubs, schools and community groups.

Earlier this year, Munster Rugby sought to incorporate office space within the new development, lodging a new planning application with the city council.

A document accompanying the application stated that, since the permission was granted for the new facility in 2019, Munster Rugby had “assessed the evolving operational requirements of Musgrave Park”.

The office space within the new development is to replace the existing single storey office building to the south of Musgrave Park.

The document stated that Munster Rugby would have no objection to a condition being imposed to restrict the use of the office space for use by IRFU Munster – a condition that was stipulated when it was granted permission for the existing offices in 2012.

It said the proposed development is “almost identical” to that which Munster Rugby already has permission to construct, “with the only difference being the insertion of a mezzanine floor to facilitate the incorporation and relocation of Munster Rugby’s offices”.

“Apart from the requirement to control the use of the proposed offices we do not consider the proposed Centre of Excellence building raises any new planning considerations and the incorporation of office within the previously permitted will allow for the most sustainable use of the proposed new building and for operational efficiencies for Munster Rugby,” the document continued.

Cork City Council sought some further information before making a decision on the application and has subsequently green lit the revised plans, subject to 18 conditions.

The attached conditions have not yet been published.