Cork City Council gives go-ahead for 155 homes in Lehenaghmore

Cork City Council has voted to grant permission for more than 155 homes in Lehenaghmore, despite residents’ concerns about the road infrastructure and access to amenities.

The plans consist of 155 mixed units, comprising four, four-bed houses; 64 three-bed houses; 39 two-bed houses; six two-bed duplex units; two three-bed duplex units; 14 one-bed apartments; and 26 two-bed apartments. The development also incorporates a crèche and 207 car parking spaces.

A total of 88 of the homes will be made available for sale privately under an affordable housing scheme, while the remainder will be provided for social housing.

The proposed development ranges in height from two to four storeys, and will be carried out for the council by way of a project agreement with OBR (Togher) Developments Ltd.

Following a public consultation, 55 submissions were received by the council, several of which expressed concern about a strain on the already congested local road network. The council explained: “The Lehenaghmore Road Improvement Works project has already commenced and is designed in accordance with the development plan and caters for the residential zoning of the lands on which the proposed development is situated. The works started on August 5 and will take approximately 18 months to complete.”

Concerns about the construction period, access to local amenities, the design of the housing scheme, and the environment were also addressed by council.

They said: “The provision of private and public services is the result of dwelling densities which serve to justify the provision of said services. Thereby, the completion of the proposed development will add weight in favour of the provision of both private and public services in the future.

“Furthermore, a social infrastructure audit report was prepared for the proposed development and found that there are a total of 13 retail and convenience facilities/service within 1.25km of the site boundary. These facilities/services consisted of four pubs/bars, two express convenience stores, two hairdressers, two restaurants, one café, one convenience store, and one grocery store.

“The development includes its own amenities/facilities including recreation/amenity areas and a 42 space childcare facility.”

The council added that the audit report identified that there were 134 primary school places available and roughly 49 would be required to service the development.