Two of four blocks of flats on Cork's Noonan’s Rd to be demolished this summer

Two of the four blocks of the dilapidated 1960s social housing flats on Noonan's Rd in Cork city are due to be demolished over the summer.

The council has procured the services of O’Kelly Brothers, a Limerick-based firm of specialist demolition contractors.

On behalf of Cork City Council, O’Kelly Brothers will begin survey and liaison work ahead of the demolition of block two and block four of the Noonan’s Rd flats, which have been fully vacant for several months.

“The demolition works will take place over the summer,” a city council spokesperson said.

“Once the demolition is complete, the sites will be topsoiled, a wildflower meadow established, and sites secured, awaiting redevelopment.”

In tandem, the spokesperson added, the council will continue to “work directly with individual households to support their transition to alternative accommodation in line with the phased relocation strategy”.

“Cork City Council continues to prioritise this significant redevelopment project, with a strong focus on resident engagement, phased relocation, and preparatory works to support future construction activity,” they said.

One of the properties on block one is still occupied, while four of the homes on block three are occupied. Two of the flats are privately owned.

The council announced in September 2023 that it favoured demolition of flats on Noonan’s Rd, St Finbarr’s Rd, Fort St, and Dean St, following a campaign by residents, working with housing advocate William O’Brien.

Mr O’Brien said there could not be any further delays in rehousing the final tenants and demolishing the flats.

“There are already issues in the wider local area with anti-social behaviour, so we cannot continue to have such an eyesore allowed to fester in the middle of the community,” he said.

“A full regeneration project needs to be commenced as soon as possible, not least because the people who have already been rehomed are saying the experience has been transformative for the older people, people with additional needs, and families with children who have moved to desired homes in the community.”

Welcoming the granting of a demolition contract, local Fianna Fáil councillor Seán Martin said he would have preferred if the project “had moved a bit faster”, but he said he was hopeful for progress in the coming months.

“There’s an opportunity here for a proper new development which ticks all the boxes in relation to affordable, social housing that offers a decent home to residents and looks at catering for people with disabilities,” he said.

“It would be a lot easier to do that with a complete brownfield site, rather than one or two at a time.

“We need now to get a masterplan in place and take advantage of government funding to completely regenerate the area.”

While the 84 flats at Noonan’s Rd and St Finbarr’s Rd are now almost completely emptied, the 30 flats on Fort St and Dean St remain for the most part in use, despite residents complaining about conditions there.

Last December, the council rowed back on initial plans to demolish those flats, saying, that given the scale of the housing crisis, it was “seeking to continue full occupancy at the Fort St and Dean St complexes, where possible”.