New apartments approved by City Council for Gurranabraher
A public consultation was held, and five submissions were received by the council in relation to the proposed development. Picture: Larry Cummins.
Cork City Councillors voted on Monday night to approve the development of 14 homes at 49/50 Old Market Place in Gurranabraher.
The proposed Old Market Place development comprises the demolition of the existing abandoned steel frame structure on site and the construction of 12 one-bed apartments and two two-bed apartments.
The proposed development is four storeys in height with a 'setback' on the fourth floor, and will sit on a site approximately 0.0561 hectares and accessed by Glen Ryan Road to the south.
The development is proposed to be carried out for Cork City Council by way of a project agreement with HRP Construction Limited.
A public consultation was held, and five submissions were received by the council in relation to the proposed development.
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One submission queried whether a commercial tenant could be accommodated on the ground floor. The council responded that the development’s purpose is housing delivery and said that the area is already well served by nearby shops and local services.
Multiple submissions requested enhanced bicycle facilities, including covered cargo bike parking, Sheffield stands, improved access routes for larger bicycles, and safer turning areas.
The council confirmed that enclosed bicycle parking would be provided within the proposed bin and bike store and that the design would be amended to include cargo bike facilities.
A 'swept path analysis' to examine bike turning space, and protective wall measures, will also be considered during the detailed design stage.
A submission suggested converting part of the site into additional bike parking or a green space, but the Council stated this area is required for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems to manage surface water run-off.
Another submission proposed that a fifth storey should be included, if feasible, with regards design and cost, It was suggested that it would be historically appropriate for the Shandon Street area and an increase in density would provide more housing and increase the viability of services within the community.
The Council responded that a taller building would trigger stricter fire safety requirements, increase costs, and alter the scale of the development in relation to surrounding properties.
It was noted that the proposal does not include any parking, and it was submitted that there is a lack of parking in the immediate area.
One person asked if there was way to increase parking in the area, and one asked if double yellow lines could be provided outside driveways.
The council said: “The site is located in a "15-minute city" zone – a seven-minute walk to the city centre, with excellent bus routes”, and that providing car parking would contradict policy and increase traffic in a dense historic area.
They added that on-street parking management (double yellow lines) was outside the remit of the application, but that the request has been passed on to the relevant council directorate.
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