Moves to rezone Cork rugby grounds
Representatives of Cork Constitution, including former Irish international Donal Lenihan and officials representing developer Owen O’Callaghan, have briefed several city councillors on their joint proposals for the club’s Temple Hill site.
They want councillors to rezone the eight-acre sports ground for development which would in turn facilitate the club’s move to a new site in Douglas.
The club has agreed to an estimated €30 million cash and land swap deal with O’Callaghan Properties.
Under the deal, the club hopes to move to a 30-plus acre site in Ballyorban, Douglas, owned by Mr O’Callaghan on which he has offered to build a new stadium and clubhouse.
The county council granted conditional permission for that project but it has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
But the deal hinges on the rezoning of the Temple Hill site for an O’Callaghan Properties project.
Fianna Fáil councillors were briefed on the project in recent weeks. Fine Gael councillors were briefed in City Hall on Monday. Meetings with Labour and remaining councillors are planned for the coming weeks.
A spokesman for O’Callaghan Properties described the briefings as an exercise in informing councillors about the possible future uses of the Temple Hill site. Details of the project have been submitted to the council as part of its preparation of a new city development plan.
It is understood the company wants to build a low-density, low rise mixed residential scheme on the rugby club’s site. The spokesman stressed the firm’s genuine desire to retain a significant amount of recreational land and make it available to the public.
It is not clear how much of the site will be set aside or what form — pitches, parkland or courts — it will take. There is also a proposal to develop a Temple Hill village centre, with small shops and other community facilities on the site.
The decision to rezone the site rests with the city’s 31 councillors who have consistently said sports grounds will not be rezoned for development.
Meanwhile, plans for a 35-acre public sports park just outside the western city boundary could be threatened by a highway around Cork.
The city council bought a landbank at Leemount, Carrigrohane, in May 2004 for €400,000. However, the National Roads Authority (NRA) published possible routes for the Northern Ring Road — with the favoured option passing right through the landbank.
Cllr Mick Barry questioned Mr Gavin on Monday about the sequence of the events.
Mr Gavin said the land was bought two years before the NRA announced its intention to build the highway.
But he said there is no way the city or taxpayers would lose money on the deal if the road goes ahead.
He said the €11,428 an acre purchase price represented “excellent value” for land on the outskirts of the city.
“It is one of the best deals Cork City Council has ever done,” he said.
“If you know anybody who can sell land at this kind of price, let me know and we’ll buy it in the morning.”
He also said the council will be fully paid for any part of the land which may be required for the road project.
