Planners warn of delay to new town

Planners insist “now is the time” to rubberstamp blue-prints for a new town on the outskirts of Cork City, warning the project founder they may “miss the boat” if the project is left until the economy improves.

Senior officials from Cork County Council yesterday told a Bord Pleanála oral hearing if the town was not built, there could be a deficit in housing in the Cork Metropolitan Area.

The council proposes to build the 5,400-home town at Monard, near Blarney, on a phased basis — when the economy picks up.