Council’s demands were ‘out of proportion’ to project

A BORD Pleanála inspector has criticised a local authority for seeking too much money from a developer to upgrade road networks in Glanmire, Co Cork.

Inspector Conor McGrath said in a report, released yesterday, that contributions sought by Cork County Council from O’Flynn Construction for a €200 million project at Dunkettle were “out of proportion to the development proposed”.

An Bord Pleanála recently refused permission for the project because of a lack of proper infrastructure.

At an oral hearing last year, lawyers for O’Flynn Construction argued that it was unfair of the council to expect the company to build roads outside the development site, and also pay a significant contribution charge to other infrastructural works which would be carried out by the authority.

The developer had sought to build 629 houses, a garden centre, equestrian centre and retail outlet around the stately home. Cork County Council granted permission for just 527 houses and attached 65 conditions, of which contributions and road development clauses proved controversial.

O’Flynn Construction appealed to An Bord Pleanála and was refused on the grounds that it was felt the project was premature without the proper infrastructure being in place.

In his report Mr McGrath said proposals for upgrading roads around Dunkettle has been in place “since at least 2003 and money had been collected for that”. He said the land in question had been zoned for housing by the local authority three years ago. While refusing the project, the inspector did said in his opinion if it were to go ahead the optimum number of houses should be 566.

When contacted, O’Flynn Construction managing director Michael O’Flynn said: “The inspector’s report clearly confirms that Cork County Council’s assessment was wrong regarding the roads issue. So we must now engage with the council to resolve these difficulties, so that we can go forward together and develop this important zoned landbank in metropolitan Cork.

“The board inspector has accepted that our scheme is consistent with the County Development Plan and he has also accepted the principle of a higher density, than that permitted by the county council.”

Mr O’Flynn said he is very encouraged by the inspector’s conclusions and will going to incorporate his findings, and the direction indicated by the board, into a revised design which the company will then discuss with Cork County Council as soon as possible.