Developer seeks to extend permission for 750 homes in Cork due to covid delays

Company granted planning permission for 750 homes in Ballyvolane in 2020 has submitted fresh bid to extend the permission by three years

CGI image of the 753-unit housing estate, Longview, proposed for Ballyvolane, on the northside of Cork City.

Developers already granted planning permission for a mammoth development of over 750 homes near Cork City have submitted a fresh bid to extend the permission by three years due to “significant delays” caused by covid-19.

Longview Estates Ltd had been successful in 2020 in its application for planning permission for 753 houses and apartments across six neighbourhoods in the townland of Lahardane, Ballyvolane, about 3km north-east of Cork City centre. 

It is one of the largest strategic housing developments granted permission in the State.

Last summer, Tanáiste Micheál Martin and Finance Minister Michael McGrath turned the sod on the €9m Housing Infrastructure Services Company (HISCo) investment in roads, footpaths and services for the site.

Mr Martin described it as a “hugely significant project for Cork City".

“As one of the largest housing developments to ever commence in the history of Cork City, this project points to the building momentum we’re now seeing in the delivery of housing,” he said.

HISCo is a commercial joint venture between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Cork County Council, which builds supporting infrastructure where delays are hindering the delivery of residential developments across the country.

Longview is headed by John Crean and backed by investment fund Temporis Capital, and is cleared for a mix of 531 houses and 222 apartments, on lands acquired in two tranches over six years ago by Longview.

However, it was granted planning permission for the development for a period of seven years from its approval date in 2020. Longview has resubmitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála to extend this to 10 years.

“The [strategic housing development] was permitted on May 27, 2020, but a clarification to one condition only issued October 9, 2020,” a report on Longview’s behalf by Tom Philipps & Associates said.

Longview said due to the scale of the projects, Irish Water works and HISCo-supported infrastructure works and enabling infrastructure were 'all impacted and delayed' by the pandemic.

“The delivery programme was significantly impacted by the construction restrictions as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. The project was effectively put on hold during 2020 and early 2021 due to the rolling shutdowns of the construction sector during peaks of the covid-19 virus.” 

It said due to the scale of the projects, Irish Water works and HISCo-supported infrastructure works and enabling infrastructure were “all impacted and delayed” by the pandemic.

“Other works and activities were also delayed by not only by covid-19 closures and restrictions, but with inflation challenges brought on by same and the war in Ukraine,” the report said.

It said preparations to start working on the site started in spring 2023, with enabling works commencing in April over three years into the planning permission period.

“Whilst the request is to extend the permission period to 10 years, in reality the development would still be delivered over a seven-year timeframe as per the original SHD consent owing to the delay in commencing same.

“The amendments required are necessary due to the delay in commencing the permitted development, to respond to market conditions, and to better improve the relationship with existing dwellings to the north of the site,” the report concluded.

An Bord Pleanála has said the case is due to be decided by May 13.