Residents raise fears over Nemo grounds access

RESIDENTS fighting multi-million euro plans to build on the former home of a leading GAA club have raised several concerns just days before a crucial decision by the state’s planning appeals board.

John Fleming Construction Company Ltd wants to build 78 two- and three-storey semi-detached and terraced houses, 28 apartments and a creche on the former home of the famous Nemo Rangers club in Cork. An Bord Pleanála is due to rule on the contentious project next week. But neighbours living in the historic Eldred Terrace, which runs close to the site, said they have serious concerns about aspects of the project, some of which may be challenged in the courts.

They have questioned the timing of the sale to Flemings of a state-owned property (number 7 Eldred Terrace) which allowed the company draft plans for a new access road into the site.

Owned by the Department of Defence since the mid-1950s and used for FCA training, number 7 was put up for sale just four months after Fleming’s first planning application for the Nemo site was rejected.

The sale was completed in March 2008 and, days later, Flemings submitted a revised planning application for the Nemo site featuring the access road off the Douglas Road using a portion of land next to number 7.

A spokesperson for the department defended the deal and said there was nothing unusual about the timing of the sale.

“This property was sold by tender. There were three bidders and Flemings was the highest. The property achieved in excess of €2.5 million,” she said.

But residents’ spokesman Brian Lynch said locals are concerned because an access road for the Nemo site already exists off the South Douglas Road on the opposite side of the site.

It was built by a rival developer working on an adjoining site in 2007 after city planners directed it be built to facilitate future development of the Nemo site.

The Kenny Group, which built that access road as part of its redevelopment of the former HB/Clona site, has now raised similar concerns with the board It has claimed that its access road is effectively being ignored.

Residents are also concerned that Fleming’s proposed access road will wipe out the only available parking spaces, which they have used for almost 40 years.

Fleming Construction declined to comment before the board’s ruling, which is due later this week.