Cork housing developments face Uisce Éireann delays until at least 2030

Cork councillors have raised concerns about water shortages and infrastructure problems holding up hundreds of proposed homes

The developments are in Whitechurch, about 11km north of Cork City, and Cobh. File picture

Two proposed housing developments in Cork involving hundreds of homes could be delayed until at least 2030 because of water supply and infrastructure issues.

The developments are in Whitechurch, about 11km north of Cork City, and Cobh.

Cork County Council chief executive Moira Murrell and senior officials are to raise the issues with Uisce Éireann, following concerns from councillors that delays to water infrastructure are holding up badly needed housing.

Fianna Fáil councillor Sheila O’Callaghan said a proposed 280-home development in Whitechurch had been told by Uisce Éireann that it would not be feasible to proceed until at least 2030.

She said the project would require a 2km extension to the local trunk main.

Ms O’Callaghan also raised concerns about the current water supply to Whitechurch, saying Uisce Éireann had been “tankering in” water to the village since July 2025.

She said the tankers were travelling through a housing estate and that local residents had raised concerns about the safety implications.

Ms O’Callaghan said it was her understanding that the water supplying the Whitechurch reservoir came from a well located on privately owned land.

“This puts the village in a very vulnerable situation,” she told senior council officials at a meeting in County Hall.

280-home Whitechurch proposal

Ms O’Callaghan said a private developer had recently submitted a “pre-application proposal” to Uisce Éireann for the construction of 280 homes in Whitechurch.

However, she said the utility had indicated that the development would not be feasible to start until at least 2030 because of the need for the 2km trunk-main extension.

Independent Ireland councillor Ger Curley also criticised Uisce Éireann over the ongoing water supply problems in Whitechurch.

“We were promised this (supply issue) would have been sorted out last summer and it wasn’t,” Mr Curley said.

“This (delay is) definitely going to hinder house building going forward and it’s houses that are badly needed.”

Cobh development also delayed

Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen said a similar large-scale housing development had also been put on hold in Cobh, again until at least 2030.

He questioned whether 2030 was “some kind of magic date”, saying the utility had previously given similar assurances about resolving the Cobh supply problems as those given in relation to Whitechurch.

“Uisce Éireann is the problem yet again and its infrastructure issues are just not being resolved,” Mr Rasmussen said.

Ms Murrell said she and council officials were aware of the issues affecting Whitechurch and Cobh.

“We will certainly keep this on the agenda with them,” she said.