Planning permission granted for more than 540 homes in Ballincollig

Ten-year planning permission for a large scale residential development (LRD), consisting of more than 540 homes in Ballincollig, has been granted by Cork City Council.

The plans, lodged by Murnane O’Shea Limited in July, were given the green-light by the local authority this week.

The approved plans will see the demolition of an existing dwelling house and farmyard, with associated agricultural buildings, at the site at Greenfield in Ballincollig for the construction of the complex.

The development will consist of a mixed-use residential development, comprising 544 residential units in total.

The units will consist of 232 dwelling houses, 312 apartment/duplex units, a two storey 128-space creche facility, and a commercial/retail unit.

The proposed 232 dwelling houses will include 100 four-bedroom detached and semi-detached houses, 124 three-bedroom semi-detached and townhouse houses and eight two-bedroom townhouse units.

The proposed 312 apartment/duplex units, of which 80 will be one-bedroom units, will be provided in 28 apartment/duplex buildings, ranging in height from three to four storeys over basement level.

The development will be constructed in two phases, broken into four parts, with Phase 1A consisting of the demolition of the existing structures on site, the establishment of the site compound, the delivery of sections of active travel paths on Greenfields Road, and the construction of 140 residential units in the northwestern areas of the site.

Phase 1B consists of the completion of active travel paths on Greenfields Road, the construction of the Sustainable Access Corridor, and the construction of 150 residential units and the creche facility in the northeastern and central areas of the site.

Phase 2A and 2B consist of the construction of the remaining 254 residential units and the retail/commercial unit across the southwestern and southeastern areas of the site.

Vehicular access to the proposed development will be provided for via two entrances from Greenfields Road, with separate pedestrian/cycle connections also provided from Greenfields Road.

Ancillary site works also include the implementation of two pedestrian crossings on Greenfields Road and the installation of a noise attenuation screen along the site's southern boundary.

More than 45 objections to the development were submitted in advance of the local authority’s decision, with concerns including the size and scale of the development, traffic management and congestion issues, and a lack of phased community amenities.

However, Cork City Council ultimately decided to approve the application, subject to 59 conditions.

One condition stipulates that in the interest of ensuring the provision of essential childcare services, the childcare facility shall be constructed and operational prior to the occupation of any residential dwelling of two or more beds within the subject site, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Planning Authority, in consultation with Cork City Childcare.

Another condition stipulates that, to restrict the new housing development to use by persons of a particular class or description, prior to the commencement of any house or duplex unit in the development as permitted, the applicant or any person with an interest in the land shall enter into an agreement with the planning authority, pursuant to Section 47 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, that restricts all houses and duplex units permitted, to first occupation by individual purchasers (i.e.) those not being a corporate entity, and/or by those eligible for the occupation of social and/or affordable housing, including cost rental housing.