City council approves plans for more than a dozen new homes at ‘underutilised’ site in Blackpool

Cork City Council has green-lit plans for more than a dozen new homes at a prominent site in Blackpool.

Last year applicant John Kennedy lodged a planning application with the local authority seeking permission for a residential development at a brownfield site at the corner of Watercourse Rd and Bleasby St, comprising number three Bleasby St, Watercourse Rd, and numbers 56 and 57 Watercourse Rd.

A planning statement accompanying the application said the site was “formerly the location of small scale commercial development which is currently underutilised and in use as a car valeting service and storage”, adding that the commercial units are “largely vacant for a number of years and the site is considered to be underutilised”.

The application sought the change of use of the site, and some demolition work to construct 21 duplex, terrace and apartment units over four storeys.

The original proposal was for two studio units, nine one-bed units and 10 two-bed units.

The application also sought permission for internal bike storage to provide 42 bike parking spaces, landscaping works and all associated development works.

The planning statement contended that the proposal represented “a key opportunity for meaningful change in this culturally and historically important community as well as providing the context for improving the way in which housing is delivered by focusing on brownfield sites as the mechanism for densifying urban areas”.

Further information sought 

Cork City Council sought further information before making a decision on the application, which resulted in some changes to the proposed development.

Among the key changes is a reduction in the total amount of units from 21 to 18.

The height of the proposed development has also been reduced to three-storeys as city planners contended that the corner block of the development, originally proposed to be four storeys in height, would “sit uncomfortably within the streetscape”.

The lack of car parking associated with the development was also raised by city planners.

The request for further information stated that previous applications on the site without the provision of parking were rejected due to this reason “as there isn't sufficient on street parking on the neighbouring streets”.

“There is potential for 30 extra cars on the road due to this development and no suggestion as to where they will park.

“We agree that the maximum parking standards set out in the [city council’s] development plan are max and not a target but nevertheless a portion of residents will have cars with now here to park them.

“We understand the city centre is 15 mins walk away and there are two bus routes very close by but that will not cater for everyone's needs,” the council said.

In response, four car parking spaces have been provided for within the revised development plans.

Cork City Council has now approved the proposed development subject to 31 conditions.