Major retail proposal plunged into doubt

Plans for a major retail development on the outskirts of Cork City are in doubt after planning for an access road was shot down.

Cork City Council has refused permission for the new access road to the proposed shopping centre in Ballyvolane, which is the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, citing concerns about increased traffic and possible flooding.

The ruling could put the plan, which could create up to 350 jobs but which is facing strong local opposition, in doubt.

Plans for the development on bogland behind the Fox and Hounds pub and Brookvale estate have been in the pipeline for several years.

The site straddles the city and county council boundaries and Ballyvolane Development Company Limited had to lodge separate planning applications to the city and county councils.

After initial opposition, a scaled-backed version of the retail element was submitted to Cork County Council, which administers the land where the project could be built. A separate planning application was submitted to Cork City Council which controls the land over which an access road is required.

Earlier this year, the county council granted conditional planning for the retail element — eight units in two blocks over 1,570sq m, including a restaurant, a community building and six retail service units, a 9,545 sq m anchor unit which it is believed was lined up for Tesco, and a 468-space car park, with 418 spaces to be provided under the anchor store.

The county council’s planning decision has been appealed to An Bórd Pleanála by several parties, including An Taisce, the Brookvale Residents’ Association and Dunnes Stores which operates a major store nearby.

Locals have argued the proposed development will ruin valuable wildlife, and are opposing it on environmental, traffic, flood, and noise grounds.