Plans lodged for 246 new homes and creche near Bishopstown in Cork

Bridgewater Homes has applied to build 143 houses, 103 apartments and a large creche at Waterfall Road, Bishopstown.

Bridgewater Homes has submitted a bid for planning permission to Cork City Council for 143 houses and 103 apartment units.

Developers have lodged plans for nearly 250 new homes near Bishopstown in Cork, across the road from where another large housing scheme has been constructed.

Bridgewater Homes has submitted a bid for planning permission to Cork City Council for 143 houses and 103 apartment units at Waterfall Road in the townland of Ardarostig.

The mix of one, two, three and four-bed housing units would be accompanied by a creche for up to 140 children in the envisaged Waterfall Manor development.

While it is opposite the Waterfall Heights development where permission for 276 homes was granted by An Coimisiún Pleanála in 2021, it is also located near another Waterfall Road site where plans for 164 new homes were shot down by the council earlier this year before the planning board later granted permission.

In planning statements on behalf of the applicants by McCutcheon Halley, it said that proposed scheme would “transform a 5.76 hectare greenfield site into a high-quality residential development”.

“[It] results in the creation of a sustainable and attractive residential neighbourhood which will provide quality homes that are suitable for a range of housing needs with an appropriate housing mix and density in place,” it said. 

"This proposal aims to increase density and assist in fulfilling the council’s objective of delivering more housing within the Bishopstown area.

“[It] will create a living environment that promotes the concept of ‘neighbourhood’ and promotes a sense of community.” 

The site is located around 6km from Cork city centre, to the south-west of the Bandon Rd roundabout.

Bus services

While it is located near public transport links, McCutcheon Halley said the site would benefit from the future plans for bus services in Cork.

“As part of Bus Connects proposals, new bus routes are expected to be established in the near future, with direct access from Bishopstown to Cork City, which will provide significant improvements to bus services in the wider Bishopstown and Wilton area,” it said.

“There is also a new bus route planned to serve Waterfall Road which will provide a bus service directly to the site.” Cork City Council has set a date of 30 October for its decision for the development. Any submissions to the plans must be submitted by 9 October.

In the case of the nearby development refused by Cork City Council earlier this year, An Coimisiún Pleanála overturned the local authority’s decision for the 164-home development.

While the council turned down the plans as it went against City Hall’s goals of a “15-minute city” and “walkable neighbourhoods”, the planning board took an opposing view.

An Coimisiún Pleanála said that the plans would result in an “appropriate density of residential development” and would be “acceptable in terms of pedestrian, cyclist and traffic safety”.