€18m housing development plan would create ‘ghost village’

AN €18 million development would transform a popular tourist retreat in west Cork into a wintertime ghost village, an objector warned.

The Green Party has lodged a formal objection to plans by developer David Dwyer to construct 56 houses in the heart of Ballydehob.

The party’s spokeswoman Jacqueline Hodgson described the proposed accommodation scheme as “executive-style” homes which would not fit in with local needs.

“As a holiday development, it would be detrimental to the village, as it will create a ghost suburb for most of the year,” said Ms Hodgson.

She pointed out that 16 homes had been built on an adjacent site by a different developer.

“Only two have full-time residents, leaving 14 empty for most of the year. To add a further 56 to this would be untenable for the present residents and would have a significant social impact on the village,” she further warned.

In an objection to county hall planners, the Green Party said that tourism had not been overly busy in the area in recent years, pointing out the 12 Arch Hostel had closed its door last winter.

The party also claimed that the site earmarked for Mr Dwyer’s development was on a tidal flood plain and, therefore, unsuitable for the large number of houses proposed.

“With climate change and associated sea level rise likely to occur within the next 30 years, this area will be prone to frequent, possibly permanent flooding,” Ms Hodgson said.

Mr Dwyer said yesterday that his intention was that the majority of houses would be purchased by locals and not those in search of holiday homes.

He claimed the homes — which would include a proportion of affordable housing — would be put on sale for an average of €320,000.

“We have been involved in pre-planning discussions for the past year with Cork Co Council planning officials. We have changed the plans numerous times and cut back on scale at the request of the planners,” Mr Dwyer said.

He added that he also had the support of the majority of local people.

“If we didn’t have that support, we would have withdrawn the plans. We’re a West Cork company which employs West Cork people,” he added.