Cork's Bridgewater Homes unveil plans for 206 unit development in Glanmire

Cork builder Bridgewater Homes continues to ramp up residential activity as details of plans for another large-scale development were confirmed this week in a planning application for 206 homes at Sallybrook, Glanmire.

Proposals for the latest scheme follow hot on the heels of an application lodged last month seeking permission to build 300 homes at Castletreasure, on a key 24-acre (9.7ha) development-zoned landbank, south of Cairn Homes’ €150m 472-unit Bayly, and west of where builders Murnane & O’Shea continue to work on a 580-home scheme. 

If permission for the scheme is given, the sale of the zoned land, owned by the Cashman family, can go through, with the deal expected to be worth in the region of €9m-€10m. The sale of the site is subject to planning permission. A decision on the application is due in September.

Bridgewater’s expansion of its development pipeline comes as its latest accounts filed with the Companies Registration Office show turnover increased significantly in the year to the end of September 2025, up from €34.9m to €40.8m — a 17% rise. The company, which has 33 employees, recorded gross profits of €3.34m.

Housing mushroomed

The builder’s proposed Castletreasure development is likely to be the last in what is now a built-up area, where housing has mushroomed over the past decade with several builders active for a number of years on the valley site, beyond Douglas village, off the Carrigaline Road/Carr’s Hill.

Bridgewater director David Walsh said no further lands in the area are currently zoned for residential use.

“There is no more land zoned for housing, beyond existing developments,” Mr Walsh said.

Meanwhile, at the opposite side of Carr’s Hill, closer to Maryborough Hill, Bridgewater has just been cleared by planners to develop a 176-home scheme on a 4.39ha (10.8a) greenfield site bounded by Hazel Hill and Applewood housing estates and close to where the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy motorway scheme is currently under construction. The residential scheme will include 104 two-, three-, and four-bed homes, as well as 72 apartments over three blocks.

Bridgewater is also behind large-scale residential schemes in Carrigaline (362 units on Mount Road) as well as a trio of schemes, valued at €400m, on lands at Ardrostig on the Waterfall Road, acquired by the builder for in excess of €17m.

The schemes will deliver close to 700 units between them, with 275 units completed at Waterfall Heights, while work on 164 units at Waterfall Avenue is well under way.

Work on a third major project, Waterfall Manor, consisting of 246 homes, is due to begin next month.

“We’ll be breaking ground in September,” Mr Walsh said.

Meanwhile, work on a niche 19-home scheme on Rochestown Road, called The Orchard, which backs on to Dunnes Stores car park in Douglas village, is due for completion by the end of the year.