Councillors erupt into war of words after former Cork lord mayor votes against social housing scheme
Cork city councillors eventually voted 22 to seven to approve the scheme. File Picture: Denis Minihane.
A former lord mayor of Cork has been criticised for voting against one of three social housing projects approved by city councillors on Monday, one of which would deliver 56 homes on a former sweet factory site.
Labour councillor Peter Horgan said he was incensed by Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy’s criticism of the "bland design" for four apartments on a vacant overgrown corner site at the junction of Boreenmanna Rd and Clanrickarde Estate, which attracted over 40 submissions during its Part 8 public consultation.
“Units like this being rejected because the design is bland?” Mr Horgan asked.
“I’m sorry housing isn’t sexy enough for you to vote for it. That is not a reason to vote against housing.
The deputy lord mayor, Green Party councillor Honore Kamegni, and Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill also voted against it, with Mr Cahill criticising the way the Part 8 consultation was initially presented to councillors.
Mr Kamegni said: “Just because there is a housing crisis, doesn’t mean we have to build anywhere.”
Officials said they listened to concerns and omitted the second floor of one of the units, reducing the height from three to two storeys, to deliver two two-bedroom ground floor units, one two-bed unit, and one one-bed unit on the first floor — the maximum changes possible on a tight corner site.
Councillors eventually voted 22 to seven to approve the scheme.
They also approved Part 8 planning for 56 social homes on the former Topps sweet factory in Ballincollig, which has lain vacant since the company ceased operations in the town in 1998.
Councillors were told the scheme will be named Innishmore Gardens and comprise of one four-bed house, 17 three-bed houses, 12 one-bed apartments, 12 two-bed duplex units, seven two-bed apartments, and seven three-bed duplex units. The scheme will also provide 58 parking spaces.
It will range in height from two storeys to three storeys, and will be carried out for the council by way of a project agreement with OBR Construction Group.
Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch, who was raised and lives in Innishmore, said he wants to see the housing development succeed and integrated into the existing community.
Independent councillor Albert Deasy criticised the council for not taking on board certain design concerns he said he expressed before the scheme was published for public consultation, and he called for it to be referred back to the local area committee.
However, council chief executive Valerie O’Sullivan insisted there were no Part 8 proposals before councillors that had not been properly consulted on.
In Blackpool, councillors approved the demolition of a council-owned derelict two-storey house at 24 Thomas Davis St for a three-storey building with two units — one two-bed maisonette over a one-bed apartment, each with their own door access at ground floor level.
Fianna Fáil councillor John Sheehan welcomed the proposal for a street he said was once “the most derelict street in Cork”.
“It once had 23 derelict sites, but that has now been reduced by half thanks to the work of the council. It’s great to see the street coming back to life,” he said.
