Bord Pleanála gives go-ahead for retail centre near CIT

An Bord Pleanála has overturned a Cork City Council vote and granted planning permission for a retail centre, including an off-licence, in a business park near CIT.

The decision comes almost 10 months after the city’s councillors voted unanimously against the recommendation of planners to amend zoning in the city development plan to facilitate the project in the park off Melbourn Rd in Bishopstown.

Lord Mayor Cllr John Buttimer (FG), who represents the area, criticised the decision. “It highlights the gulf between the planning appeals board and the views of democratically elected politicians who are representing the views and concerns of local people on the ground,” he said.

The applicant, Melbourne Management Company Ltd, associated with developers Michael and John O’Flynn, sought to change the use of several business, enterprise, and light-industrial units at the former Melbourne Business Centre, to provide a 4,500sq ft local retail centre, with an off-licence, and four other shops.

It is understood that Tesco Express was lined up as the anchor for the larger unit.

The project faced opposition from RGDATA and local business owners.

The appeals board said it arrived at its decision having regard to the nature of the development proposed, the pattern of existing development on the site and in the area, the provisions of the Cork City Development Plan 2009 and, in particular, the objective to provide a new “local centre” in the area. It limited the retail unit’s hours of operation from 7am to 10pm.

Earlier this year, councillors voted unanimously against another proposal by Melbourne Management to change the use of a separate unit in the business park to develop a veterinary clinic.

That decision has also been appealed to An Bord Pleanála and is due to be decided in November.