Plans approved for 1,000-pupil school in Cork village

Plans for a new 1,000-pupil secondary school replacing all existing accommodation at Coachford College have received conditional planning permission.

Earlier this year, patron of the school Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) lodged a planning application seeking permission for the demolition of the existing school buildings, the removal of existing pre-fabricated temporary accommodation, and the construction of a new multi-storey school at the existing site on the outskirts of Coachford village.

The development description said the new school would include the provision of a four-classroom special education unit, a single-storey multipurpose hall, general purpose room, general classrooms, specialist classrooms, social areas, a library, administration areas, service yards, external stores, covered storage areas for construction studies, toilet and changing facilities and associated ancillary accommodation.

The application also sought permission for some additional works including the provision of new ball courts, a playing pitch, landscaped external areas and other associated site works.

School developed on site in 1970s

An architectural design statement submitted with the application stated that the original four-classroom school was introduced to the site in the 1970s as a conversion of an out-building that was attached to a Georgian house, Glebe House - a rectory that has since been demolished.

“During the 1980s and 1990s the Georgian house was demolished and accommodation added under an additional accommodation scheme.

“In 2001 a larger extension was constructed to the western side of the original school.

“The current school building is located to the north of the site with a large playing pitch to the south.

“The school accommodation is inadequate for the current needs of the school and a number of temporary accommodation units have been installed on site in recent years,” it continued.

Cork County Council sought further information on the plans before making a decision, which resulted in some changes to the proposals.

Conditions to planning 

The local authority has now green-lit the development, subject to 57 conditions.

One condition states that bus parking set-down bays along the L6850 must be removed and relocated within the school campus with the arrangement to be agreed with the local authority.

The condition adds that the set down/collection and parking areas for cars “shall be re-configured in an enhanced and safer arrangement to be agreed” and the site layout must also be amended to provide a “revised location and design of all vehicular entrance points to the site”.

The local authority further stated that there must be a reduction in car parking spaces proposed under the maximum standards set out in the Cork County Development Plan 2022.

A number of conditions related to biodiversity, while another condition stipulates that the development must be carried out “on a phased basis”.

“The phasing scheme shall include a detailed and prescriptive phasing plan for the demolition and construction period demonstrating how the school will function safely and in accordance with operational requirements throughout the redevelopment over each particular phase with associated breakdown of operations,” the county council said.

Commenting following the grant of conditional planning, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan said the council’s approval of the development marked a “big milestone” for the school.

The school, he pointed out, services a “huge community” and said the new development is much needed.