€50 million Lee development plan withdrawn

AMBITIOUS plans for a €50 million residential and leisure development on the banks of Cork’s River Lee have been withdrawn by the applicants in the same week a decision was due from the city council.

Grangefield Developments and Cork Boat Club submitted their plans for the Castle Road in Blackrock last December for the reclamation of half an acre of foreshore and for the development of a new boathouse and club facilities, along with 119 apartments.

Included in their project was a massive public boardwalk along the Lee. Almost 40 submissions were made by residents on the Blackrock side and on the Tivoli side of the Lee. An Taisce and Green Party TD Dan Boyle also made submissions. Further information was provided in February and a final decision had been due a week ago. However it is understood city planners were not happy with the overall thrust of the project.

It is understood the scale of the development and the design of the residential element of the project were not what they envisaged.

The developers are understood to be considering a redesign with a view to submitting a revised planning application.

The council’s €3 million Blackrock Regeneration Plan which will transform the nearby Blackrock village with a new public park, boardwalk and improved harbour is still on track.

Meanwhile, the council has given planning permission for the redevelopment of the Nat Ross warehouse site on Monahan Road.