Plans for more than 160 new homes in Ballincollig given green light

Plans for a large-scale residential development in Ballincollig, which will see the delivery of more than 160 new homes, have been approved.

Coleman New Homes (Blarney) Limited lodged the application in November 2023 with Cork City Council, seeking permission for the construction of 162 residential units at a site off Maglin Rd.

The application said the proposed development would consist of 84 two-storey dwellings, 56 duplex units provided in six two- to three-storey buildings, and a four- to five-storey apartment building containing 22 apartments.

The application said that access would be principally via the existing access road and entrance serving Cois Caisleán from Maglin Rd, with additional connectivity via Maglin Grove.

Permission was also sought for other site development works and other elements, including the provision of bicycle and car parking.

Masterplan

A planning report submitted with the application stated that the proposed development represented the second phase of a masterplan for lands owned by the applicants.

The planning report asserted that the proposed development represented a “natural extension” of the adjacent Cois Caisleán development and the Maglin Green, which it said were either recently completed or under construction by the applicants.

Over a dozen submissions and objections relating to the application were lodged with the city council.

A number of submissions stated concerns regarding the “vehicular connectivity” provided via Maglin Grove, asserting that this would “undermine the character of Maglin estate and significantly alter traffic patterns on the road”.

Cork City Council submitted a request for further information (RFI) before making a decision on the application.

Clarity

Among the points raised in the RFI, the council sought clarity on the proposed access arrangements.

The response letter submitted on behalf of the applicants stated that “having regard to the third-party submissions from residents of Maglin Grove/Green and the council’s request for clarification on this matter, the application would like to confirm that the proposed connection with Maglin Gove is now solely pedestrian in nature”.

Cork City Council has approved the proposed development subject to 58 conditions.

The decision was welcomed by local Fianna Fáil councillor Colm Kelleher, who said the new units would “complement” existing development in the area.

“I would have one issue there and that would be the existing infrastructure of Maglin Rd itself,” he said.

“It is a narrow road and I do believe that that will have to be looked at in the future.”