Green light for 90 homes in Cork city

Plans for 90 new homes in the Cork suburb of Blackrock, which will be made available on a cost rental basis, have been approved.

An Bord Pleanála upheld last year’s decision by Cork City Council to grant planning permission to development firm Lyonshall for the construction of 90 residential units on a 0.63-hectare site on Skehard Rd.

The board rejected appeals against the council’s ruling by two local families who claimed that the proposed development was out of proportion and would visually dominate other homes in its immediate vicinity.

They complained that the density and height of the apartment blocks were excessive.

The site — which is adjacent to the SuperValu supermarket in Blackrock — is currently occupied by Villa Maria, a vacant two-storey house, which will be demolished as part of the plans.

The project is being developed in conjunction with voluntary approved housing association Tuath Housing as a cost-rental scheme subject to funding approval from the Department of Housing.

It will comprise of 74 apartments in three blocks up to five storeys in height, as well as 12 townhouses and four duplex units. Under the cost-rental scheme, the rent charged will be a maximum of 35% of a tenant’s income.

APPEAL

Lyonshall successfully appealed a condition imposed by council planners which directed it to omit one level from the apartment blocks, with the loss of 18 units.

A planning inspector with An Bord Pleanála had also recommended the omission of one storey, with the observation that the acceptability of five storeys was “very finely balanced” and would represent “an abrupt transition in scale”.

However, the company said the condition was unnecessary and claimed that the reduced number of units would threaten the viability of the development.

In response to the appeals, Lyonshall pointed out that the Cork City Development Plan sets height targets for areas across the city.

It noted that the development was within the target range for Blackrock and Ballintemple of between three and five storeys.

Subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions, the board said the development was acceptable in terms of design, density, unit mix, residential amenity for future residents, as well as pedestrian and traffic safety.

The board also observed that it would promote “the efficient development of housing on an accessible and sustainable site”.

Planning documents submitted by Lyonshall show that Blackrock was the second-most preferred location after the city centre among almost 13,500 applicants for social housing in Cork.

The company said there was “a demonstrable need for social and affordable housing at this location” as well as noting that there was an “overwhelming and urgent demand” for small residential units.

Cork City Council has previously rejected plans for a mixed-used development, including an Aldi supermarket on the same site by the same developer, in 2021, because of its “visually obtrusive” impact and overshadowing of neighbouring properties.

Fianna Fáil councillor Terry Shannon said he had no objection to the development in principle, but claimed its height was “excessive” and its scale was “quite overpowering”.

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy said he believed the proposal “packs too much housing into such a small space”, while Labour councillor Peter Horgan called for the plans to be reviewed in order to replace the apartment blocks with more duplex-style housing.