Planners ‘turn corner’ on approval for Cork town

Planners believe they have turned the corner in getting a new town approved for Co Cork after amending housing density proposals and having discussions with the National Roads Authority (NRA) about a road link.

In 2012, Cork County Council plans for a town at Monard, near Blarney were shot down by An Bord Pleanála.

The decision was based primarily on the uncertainty surrounding the building of the Northern Ring Road — connecting the M8 north of Glanmire with the N20 in Blarney — and a junction linking it to Monard, and the low-density housing proposed at the site.