Appeal lodged over planning refusal for 164 homes in Cork suburb 

The developer behind proposals for 164 homes and a creche in Bishopstown has lodged an appeal after Cork City Council refused planning permission for the development.

The large-scale residential development was to be located on Waterfall Rd in Bishopstown, consisting of 64 three-bed semi-detached and terraced dwellings, 54 apartments, and 46 duplex units.

The plans also included a creche and external play area, outdoor amenity areas, car parking as well as a new vehicular access and pedestrian/cycle entrances, a two-way cycle track and pedestrian footpath, and ancillary works.

However, the plans were refused permission.

“Having regard to the location of the site, the scale and density of development proposed, and the lack of pedestrian infrastructure and linkages to public transport facilities in the area, it is considered that the proposed development would be excessively car-dependent,” said a Cork City Council planning officer.

“In the absence of pedestrian infrastructure connecting the development site with available public transport facilities, the proposed development would endanger pedestrian safety by reason of traffic hazard.”

The developer, Dwellings Development Bishopstown, has appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála, and the case is due to be decided by June 16.

The appeal says the applicants were “surprised and disappointed with the council’s decision, which was not expected”.

They said that they engaged with the nearby Marymount Hospice, where the last stop for the 208 bus is located, “on a number of occasions to see if such a connection could be established through their private lands”.

However, “this consent was not forthcoming” due to “very valid sensitivity, safety, and security concerns”, they said, calling on the council to relocate the bus stop off of their private lands so it could be used by people in its proposed development as well.