Moloney stands firm on €200m project conditions

CORK County Manager Maurice Moloney maintained yesterday that a €200 million O’Flynn Construction project at Dunkettle could not be completed until road improvements are carried out in the area.

Mr Moloney reiterated that a full traffic impact assessment was carried out and, as a result, it was decided road improvements were required to allow for such a development. His comments came just 24 hours after An Bord Pleanála refused permission to O’Flynn Construction to build more than 500 houses on the site near Glanmire.

When the council initially granted permission, it did so with a number of conditions. The council insisted the company would have to carry out some of the road improvements itself and, in addition, contribute to other road works in the area which the local authority would carry out. At an oral hearing last December, lawyers acting for O’Flynn Construction argued that building roads outside of the development itself was not within the company’s remit.

Mr Moloney said the reasons for An Bord Pleanála’s refusal include references to the development being premature, having regard to the carrying out of road improvements in the area.

“In this regard the decision to grant planning permission was taken only after a full traffic impact assessment was carried out, and was subject to a number of conditions covering the carrying out of the necessary road improvements, including footpaths and a link to the proposed park-and-ride site at Dunkettle,” Mr Moloney said.

He added the developer was required to make appropriate contributions to the cost of these works.

“In addition, the timing of the carrying out of the necessary road works envisaged that the entire proposed development of the Dunkettle lands could not be carried out prior to the completion of the necessary road improvements.”

“The council’s responsibility in planning matters includes the obligation to ensure that development permitted deals adequately with the legitimate concerns of the wider community, and, in the present case, the permission granted was modified significantly by the council during the planning process,” Mr Moloney said.

O’Flynn Construction has requested a meeting with council officials and also confirmed it will submit revised plans for the site.