Cork estate to undergo raft of repairs

A raft of repair works to a housing estate, once branded one of the worst unfinished estates in Cork City, are poised to begin.

City officials confirmed that following lengthy negotiations with various parties linked to The Meadows estate at Knocknacullen in Hollyhill, on the northside of the city, a set of agreed works should start soon.

The move was welcomed by local councillor Tony Fitzgerald, who said the cratered access road needs to be repaired, and its enormous traffic calming ramps redesigned.

“Loose-fitting manhole covers which pose a danger to road users need to be repaired. There is limited public lighting in the area, the green areas require maintenance, and the Cork County GAA Board has issues with the estate boundary with its land.

“I will be expecting these items to be on the list of works to be agreed, and addressed.”

The problems in the estate have been complicated by the fact that it is located within the administrative area of Cork County Council but accessed by a road in the city council’s administrative area.

The county council granted permission in 2004 to Knocknacullen Ltd to develop the 267-unit €37m housing estate on a huge site in the shadow of the landmark water tower in Hollyhill.

Olympic athlete Mark Carroll, who grew up nearby, attended the dedication of the estate’s sweeping entrance road in his name.

But the development firm collapsed some years ago, before the estate was complete.

Over the years, residents were blighted by illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour before a liquidator was appointed to Knocknacullen in early 2013.

The Irish Examiner highlighted the estate’s problems in April 2013 after a vast dump was allowed develop on a large green area at the centre of the development which had been earmarked for a creche, a playground, and shops.

Children had free access to roam the unsecured site and the fire brigade were being called out regularly to tackle bonfires on the site.

Almost 100 homes to the rear of the estate were without functioning street lights.

Following the appointment of the liquidator, the dump site was cleared and secured and there were some improvements to the estate.

However, this week, city officials confirmed licence agreements between AIB Bank, the city council, the county council, receivers KPMG, and the liquidator for the development company have been finalised.

It will allow the liquidator to appoint a contractor to complete the works.