Almost 250 new homes proposed for Blarney

BLARNEY residents are being encouraged to have their say on plans for a major housing development which, if approved, would see the delivery of close to 250 new homes in the village.

Clockstrike Ltd has lodged an application with Cork City Council seeking permission for 246 residential dwellings — a mix of houses and apartments — at Ringwood, Shean Upper, Blarney.

The area is a greenfield site, immediately east of Blarney town centre.

The application proposes the construction of 101 apartments in four part three and part four-storey blocks, along with 30 duplex dwellings in three three-storey buildings and 115 two-storey and three-storey houses.

It further proposed the construction of a crèche with capacity to accommodate 61 children, the provision of car parking, EV charging points, bicycle parking, motorcycle parking bays, and the provision of an area reserved for future resident car parking to the rear of Woodville Terrace on Station Rd.

The proposed development would additionally include: The provision of private, communal, and public open spaces; internal roads and pathways with potential for future links to adjacent lands; pedestrian and cyclist routes; a new signalised access onto Station Rd, road and footpath improvement works on Station Rd and the R617 road; along with other associated site development works.

A planning statement submitted that the proposed development would “not adversely affect the residential amenity of adjoining properties, or the character of the area”.

The statement said it is intended that subsequent to this first application, further planning applications will be made regarding the delivery of a proposed access road through lands at Ringwood, as well as the delivery of a second large-scale residential development in the form of around 307 residential units, including sheltered housing units, on the northern portion of the residentially zoned lands.

“Additionally, proposals for a primary care centre at Ringwood are being advanced,” the statement said. “These future phases of development are current at pre-planning stage and will be subject to further discussion with Cork City Council.”

Local Fine Gael councillor Damian Boylan, who was re-elected onto Cork City Council during the local elections earlier this month, encouraged Blarney residents to have their say on the plans.

“I would encourage everyone in Blarney, anybody who think that they have an opinion on it, to engage with the planning process,” Mr Boylan said. “I’m of the opinion, as are most people, that we require housing. I understand the misgivings that people will have and everybody will talk about the fact that there aren’t enough facilities. Everybody will talk about the fact that the infrastructure isn’t up to it — and I don’t disagree in some cases — but we do need houses. So, we need to take a practical look at this and see the best way of delivering it.”

Elsewhere in the North West ward, Fianna Fáil councillor Tony Fitzgerald, who was also re-elected onto Cork City Council, similarly encouraged locals to familiarise themselves with the plans.

“The proposed development will address the long term housing needs of the city, “Mr Fitzgerald said. “I would encourage local residents to engage in the planning process by submission to ensure the development supports the local community and environmental needs.”

A decision on the application is expected in the first week of August.