Appeals put Cork’s largest-ever student accommodation development on hold

The development of Cork’s largest ever student accommodation scheme has been put on hold as multiple appeals have been lodged to An Coimisiún Pleanála, with one local telling The Echo that the proposed apartments would “cause havoc” in their quiet area.

Four appeals were lodged by residents and groups, including Blarney Street & Surrounding Areas Community Association, with the case due to be decided by the planning agency by November 6.

Last month, Cork City Council’s planning department opted to grant permission for a 957-bed development for students at a former Magdalene laundry in Sunday’s Well, with the property “to be made available outside academic seasons for tourists and other guests”.

Permission for apartments at the Good Shepherd site, which has been on Cork City Council’s derelict sites register since 2019 and the site of several fires, was granted in 2018, but plans were never progressed, and planning lapsed in December 2023.

The recent application by Bellmount Good Shepherd Ltd was given the green light for the partial demolition, conservation redevelopment, and extension of the existing former Good Shepherd convent buildings for student accommodation use.

The approved plans included the construction of eight new apartment blocks, ranging in height from three to five storeys, and the construction of a three-storey building with commercial retail use at ground-floor level, with student accommodation on the upper floors. A total of 274 student apartments, with 957 beds, are planned for the site.

Conditions set out by the council include that it be completed within seven years and that should human remains be found in the course of construction, all work must stop and relevant authorities should be informed.

Speaking to The Echo, Blarney Street Residents Association chair Tom Coleman said: “We don’t have any problems with development in our area, but this particular development is not suitable.”

He added that there have been multiple previous attempts to develop this site, none of which have progressed.

“If you went out for a meal and ordered a steak and they brought you out a saucer instead of a plate, you’d be saying it won’t fit there — this is exactly the same thing,” he said.

“We were very disappointed with the local planners; they should have known better.

“There’s been a complete breakdown with regards to consultation and communication with locals about this mass influx of people into our area.

“The density they’re trying to put in there is not suitable. As it stands, we have gridlock in terms of traffic, with people coming in from rural areas,” he said, adding that the assumption that all residents would use public transport instead of cars could not be stood over.

He also expressed concern about increased noise levels.

“It would cause havoc in the area, a quiet area — the students are bad enough, but in off season they’ll have tourists too,” he said. “It would be a disaster.

“At the moment, every time we hear the fire brigade, locals automatically say that’s the Good Shepherd Convent, so it’s left a bad taste in the area, and the plans have total disregard for the historic element of the site. Hopefully, common sense will prevail.”