Redevelopment of Fox and Hounds site gets go-ahead

A redevelopment of the Fox and Hounds site, in the northside Cork City suburb of Ballyvolane, has been approved by Cork County Council.

Ballyvolane Development Company had submitted plans in early May, 2014, for the site, which spans the city boundary, and to Cork City Council, at the same time, for a new entrance and an access road from the Ballyhooly Road.

The county council had the substantive application, which included the integration of the Fox and Hounds mixed-use retail/commercial development into a mixed-use retail district centre. The details included an anchor store of 9,500 sq m gross floor area, as well as two blocks with six retail service units, a restaurant and community building. Two retail service units, a café, and parking provision for 468 cars were also proposed.

The council asked for further information in June, and, following receipt of responses in November, January and February, planning permission was granted in the past fortnight. A decision is still awaited on the access road.

A planned offices-to-hotel conversion in Dublin City centre has had its application withdrawn ahead of a determination by An Bord Pleanála. The appeals board was asked in October to consider the plans, by Plaza on the Square Ltd, for a change-of-use, from offices, at nos 16 to 18 Pembroke Street Lower, and to the rear of number 15. It was proposed to change the use of the site, bounded by Fitzwilliam Square West and Windsor Place, to a 108-bedroom hotel. This would involve extending to the rear, where late 20th-century buildings were proposed for demolition.

Following third-party appeals against a favourable local authority decision, the outcome was due this month, but An Bord Pleanála has notified Dublin City Council of the applicant’s withdrawal.

Cork County Council has granted further planning permission for a proposed railway station to serve the Fota Retail and Business Park, in Carrigtwohill. The station, on the Cork-Midleton rail line, was first the subject of an application in 2009, by management of the park, which is just off the main Cork-Rosslare national primary road. The plan was for a 90-metre platform and a park-and-ride facility with space for 94 cars. In November of last year, Fota Retail and Business Park asked to have the permission extended, and the local authority has agreed to do so.

A decision is due by July on plans to redevelop a former Tesco anchor unit at Roscrea Shopping Centre, in Co Tipperary. The centre, on Castle Street, was subject of an application in May last year from TCORP Properties Limerick Ltd, to demolish external facades, roof and service yard of the anchor unit and office building. Also proposed was the addition of smaller units and a new ground-floor mall, with a healthcare centre at first- and second-floor levels off the mall, and an extension to the existing building to complete the ground-floor retail units and healthcare centre.

After receiving further information from the applicant company in January, permission was granted early last month by Tipperary County Council, but an appeal has been received by An Bord Pleanála from a third party.

An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for a residential estate in Maynooth, Co Kildare. The development was granted permission last July, following an application in February, 2014, by Mycete Homes Ltd to Kildare County Council. The plans for Moyglare, Mariavilla, in the university town, were for 106 houses and 32 apartments, and three shops and a crèche. The application was for the completion of a previously approved project, with 400 residential units already existing at the incomplete Moyglare Hall estate, a mile north of Maynooth. The plans were altered during the local authority planning stage, with three apartment blocks replaced by additional housing, leaving 120 new units proposed.

Following third-party appeals against Kildare County Council’s approval, An Bord Pleanála was recommended by its inspector to turn down permission because of traffic and local planning policy restricting apartments in the university campus area. However, the board has granted permission, with conditions that include the omission of a block.