Ballincollig to receive additional social housing units

Ballincollig is to receive an additional six social housing units on top of the 56 homes announced last week at Innishmore, but a local councillor has warned that additional parking must first be sorted.

The latest planned development will be located at the entrance to Inniscarra View, consisting of six social housing units, with one specifically designed for people with additional needs.

Fianna Fáil councillor and former lord mayor Colm Kelleher said the new development was good news for Ballincollig.

“This is on the site of an old cottage alongside the postbox between Inniscarra View and Rosewood, it’s very welcome,” he said.

However, Mr Kelleher said he and his fellow ward councillors say the planning application needed to be slightly altered in relation to parking.

“Currently there is a disabled parking space planned for the home which is designed for people with additional needs, and there is only one other parking space allocated between the five other housing units,” he said.

“We raised our concerns with Cork City Council’s executive, and the plans had been scheduled to be advertised, but they have gone back now to see if more parking can be incorporated into them.

“Although it’s on a bus route and alongside a bus stop, we just have to cater for all people who may become tenants in this much needed housing development,” he said.

Mr Kelleher said that once the parking concerns were addressed, he was hopeful the development would go to Part 8 planning, before it would go back to the council for approval.

“Pending that approval, we’re probably looking at worst case scenario three years, probably two years,” he said.

The news comes after publication last week of a Part 8 planning notice for a social housing development of 56 homes for Ballincollig at the old Topps sweet factory site at Innishmore.