Cork City student apartments get go-ahead despite concerns over tourist use outside term time

One submission on behalf of the proprietors of Cork Student Village said they had 'experienced difficulty filling their complex for the academic year due to the large volume of student complexes being erected in the area'

In December, Lyonshall Ltd applied for permission for the 408 student beds across 57 apartments reaching as high as five storeys.

Over 400 new student bedspaces have been given the green light in Cork City, despite concerns from locals over the impact of it being used for tourist accommodation outside of term time.

In a condition on the granting of planning permission, Cork City Council said the development at the former St Joseph’s Convent on Model Farm Road can be used as tourist or visitor accommodation during academic holiday periods but “shall not be used for permanent residential accommodation, as a hotel, hostel, aparthotel or similar” without seeking further planning permission first.

In December, Lyonshall Ltd applied for permission for the 408 student beds across 57 apartments reaching as high as five storeys. As part of the plans, the existing former convent on the site would be demolished.

This is the second time that developers have sought plans for student bedspaces on this site.

The first plans for 450 bedspaces lodged in December 2023 were eventually refused by An Bord Pleanála in June due to limited communal facilities that “failed to provide a satisfactory standard of residential amenity for the student population”.

In a planning statement on behalf of the applicants from HW Planning, it said that the reasons for refusal had been given “full regard” in the new application.

“The provision of a student accommodation at this location will further support the students enrolled in Munster Technological University and University College Cork where there is a high demand for student accommodation,” it said.

However, the plans received dozens of submissions from locals concerned at the proposals for the student accommodation.

This included one submission on behalf of the proprietors of Cork Student Village, privately-owned accommodation that had been contracted to accommodate Ukrainian refugees. It suggested they had “experienced difficulty filling their complex for the academic year due to the large volume of student complexes being erected in the area”.

“As a result the market is already being saturating (sic) and the amount of student beds being available in Cork City are at risk of being surplus to requirements,” it said.

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Others expressed concern about its use for tourist accommodation, its height and density, and the impact on local amenities and the community.

In a further letter from HW Planning, it suggested that figures show a significant undersupply of student housing in Cork and this development would help meet the “increased demand” from student bedspaces being used for the housing of Ukrainian refugees.

Having analysed the plans, a Cork City Council planner recommended approving the scheme saying it would “not negatively impact the existing residential amenities” and would “contribute to the character and vibrancy of the neighbourhood”.