Developer may seek judicial review of decision against €400m housing plan
Michael O’Flynn, managing director of O’Flynn Construction, said he laid the blame for the refusal firmly on the shoulders of the National Roads Authority (NRA), which had objected to his plans to build 1,210 houses on the outskirts of Cork city.
The NRA claimed the project at Dunkettle, Glanmire, would generate extra traffic which would seriously impact on the Dunkettle roundabout and Jack Lynch Tunnel, which are already near capacity.
The NRA doesn’t want any major development in the area until it has upgraded both junctions.
An Bord Pleanála upheld the NRA’s view that the extra traffic generated would have an adverse impact on both the adjoining local and national road networks. It decided the project would not represent proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
“I think this is an extraordinary decision. I will be looking at it closely and taking legal advice, which will include looking at a judicial review,” Mr O’Flynn said.
Mr O’Flynn said he couldn’t understand the logic of yesterday’s refusal, based on the fact that Cork County Council had approved it twice before as it complied with their development plans.
“This decision effectively means there will be no development north or east of Dunkettle,” he said.
Earlier this year, the NRA successfully objected to the Port of Cork’s plans to locate a deep water container terminal in Ringaskiddy, on the grounds that extra traffic generated by the move would impact negatively on the Jack Lynch Tunnel.
Mr O’Flynn claimed that, and the decision against his project, “confirmed the NRA is stopping the development of Cork”.
He said while there was no demand for the Dunkettle houses in the market at the moment, he foresaw an upturn in the next two years which would have allowed him to start building.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
