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.

Provisionally, it envisages the town will not reach a population peak of 13,500 until at least 2055.

“We feel a depression, or recession, is the right time to do this and plan for the upswing,” senior planner Nicholas Mansergh said. “If you leave it too late you may find you have missed the boat.”

He told Bord Pleanála inspector Conor McGrath that Monard would be an “attractive option” for people to live in because it was close to the city and residents would be able to commute by train when a new €4m station was built on the Cork-Mallow line.

He said the council would put €1.6m towards Iarnród Éireann’s building costs.

Planners hope a junction would connect Monard to the proposed new northern ring road, planned to be built between the northern end of the Glanmire bypass and the Macroom and Bandon roads.

The NRA previously said it would not build a junction but Mr Mansergh said discussions were continuing.

His colleague, Andrew Hind, said the impact of the downturn on population growth was hard to judge.

“But historic analysis shows the region will continue to enjoy population growth and Monard will be able to accommodate that,” said Mr Hind. “The plan needs to be in place for when economic conditions improve.”

The blueprints suggest the creation of four primary schools, a secondary school, creches, retail units, medical centre, cycleways, walkways, and several sports pitches.

Independent town planner Dave Coakley, on behalf of Monard Community Association, said locals felt the planning process had been “extremely rushed”.

He said they have “key concerns” about the road infrastructure being able to cope with traffic, the timely provision of the railway station, the remoteness of playing fields from the planned houses, and the increased potential for flooding.

“The association believes that provision should be put into the planning scheme as to how the council plan to cope with the full development in the absence of the North Ring Road, or a junction from same,” said Mr Coakley.

Michael Cronin, on behalf of residents, was worried about the NRA’s stance. He feared a station would be built in Blarney before Monard, which would lead to added congestion.

He said Monard was not the right place for such a large development and doubted it would be served by proper infrastructure.

Providing a significant amount of retail space at Monard was not viable, Mr Cronin said, as so much space remains unoccupied in Blarney Business Park and Blackpool.

Bord Pleanála has set aside a week for the hearing, taking place at County Hall.

A decision is expected by July 17. If approved, it will become only the second complete pre-planned town to be built in the country after Adamstown, Co Dublin.