Phase one of housing plan at landmark Cork city site to be completed this year

The first phase of a landmark Cork city housing development — consisting of 97 homes — will be completed before the second, 170-home, phase is put out for tender, the housing minister has confirmed.

Two years ago, the Land Development Agency (LDA) was granted amended planning permission to build 267 homes — an increase of two units — at the former St Kevin’s hospital on the Lee Rd.

After years of fires, the derelict building in Shanakiel was completely gutted in a 2017 blaze. It has long been earmarked for housing, with planning permission initially granted as far back as 2021, with a 2023 completion date forecast.

Initial enabling works were delayed by concerns about roosting bats at the site, but the LDA then said the first homes would be completed in 2024, and then, when that date passed, in 2025.

Tender

In the Dáil this week housing minister James Browne told Thomas Gould, Sinn Féín TD for Cork North Central, that the first 97 homes at St Kevin’s will now be completed this year, but the remaining 170 homes will only then be put to tender.

“On final completion, this development will provide 267 new homes, 52 houses and 215 apartments, with a tenure mix of cost rental, affordable purchase and social homes. Construction of the first phase is currently underway,” Mr Browne said.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Gould said there already had been a three-year delay in building 97 homes, and now further delays seemed inevitable.

“There is no excuse for the length of time this is taking. It has now been five years since this announcement was made,” he said.

“It is less than 300 homes. Families should be living in them by now.

“I am calling for the tender to be immediately issued for the remaining homes on the site.”

The red brick St Kevin’s psychiatric hospital opened in 1899, housing almost 500 patients. It closed in 2002.

An LDA spokesperson said: “From the outset it has been known that development at St Kevin’s would be challenging owing to the complexity of the site. 

"In this regard a phased approach including the tender process was deemed most appropriate.”

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