Cork City Council gives go-ahead to large 580-home development in Douglas
HW Planning said the site was one of two landholdings in the area identified by the Cork City Development Plan 2022-28 as a 'strategic urban expansion area' that will need to accommodate significant levels of housing and population growth in the coming years.
A massive 580-home development in Douglas has been given the green light by Cork City Council.
Murnane O’Shea Ltd was granted planning permission for the massive development to the south of Cork City in the townlands of Castletreasure, Moneygurney and Maryborough earlier this week, one of the largest given permission in recent times in Cork.
The development was proposed as a mix of 263 houses and 317 apartments, including a mix of four-bed and three-bed semi-detached houses and townhouses, and three-bed, two-bed and one-bed apartments.
The plans also include a two-storey, 122-child capacity creche, a shop, a cafe, and other commercial retail units on site, with proposals saying the site and surrounding lands create the opportunity for a “15-minute neighbourhood”.
A planning statement on behalf of the applicants by HW Planning said: “The proposed development makes provision for the construction of a section and extension of the Ballybrack Valley pedestrian and cycle route.”
Access to the lands will also be integrated with the Carr’s Hill junction permitted by the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy motorway scheme, and brought into effect once the motorway becomes operational.
HW Planning said the site was one of two landholdings in the area identified by the Cork City Development Plan 2022-28 as a “strategic urban expansion area” that will need to accommodate significant levels of housing and population growth in the coming years.
It also said Cork had been falling behind on its housing target and City Hall should prioritise larger development sites to fully support the future population of Cork.
There was a small number of submissions from locals to give their opinion on the proposed development, with one raising concerns about the impact on traffic given the lack of infrastructure in the area.
Cork City Council had originally set a date of March 27 for its decision, but sought further information from the applicant before it could make its final decision. It required details on traffic, biodiversity and drainage requirements at the site.
In an assessment, Cork City Council’s senior executive transport officer said he was satisfied the proposed development would not cause “unacceptable operational traffic impacts” in the short term.
The site is located next to another large-scale housing scheme, with Cairn Homes starting development on the 472-home, €150m project near Douglas village in October 2021.
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