Green light for almost 550 new homes in Ballincollig
Developers Murnane and O'Shea Limited have received a ten-year planning permission for a large-scale residential development spanning 544 homes at Greenfield in Ballincollig.
Plans for almost 550 new homes targeting younger families and first-time buyers have been approved by Cork City Council.
Developers Murnane and O'Shea Limited lodged plans in July for a ten-year planning permission for a large-scale residential development spanning 544 homes at Greenfield in Ballincollig.
The proposed development will see an existing home and farmyard demolished to make way for the major mixed-use residential development.
The scheme comprises 232 homes, 312 apartments, a two-storey creche facility and a commercial/retail unit. Of the 232 homes proposed, 100 are four-bedroom detached or semi-detached homes, 124 are three-bedroom semi-detached or townhouse homes, and the remaining eight are two-bedroom townhouse units.
Of the 312 apartments proposed in the scheme, 80 would be one-bedroom units provided across 28 apartment buildings, which will range between three and four storeys in height.
The proposed housing mix reflects market demands and a shortage in the number of new-build three- and four-bedroom family-type residential units in the Ballincollig area, the developers said, adding that the primary target occupiers for the development would be the private housing market, specifically young families and first-time buyers.
"We consider that the proposed development represents the sequential and sustainable expansion of Ballincollig and will reflect a high-quality residential development for future occupiers," the developers added.
The development was approved despite almost 50 submissions, including from several councillors, a TD and a residents group.
Fine Gael TD Gareth Kelleher wrote to express residents' concerns regarding the height and proximity of part of the development to a nearby road, while also raising traffic concerns arising from the scheme, calling for the timely delivery of the Maglin relief road.
Fianna Fáil councillor Colm Kelleher raised multiple issues with the development and called some of the proposed apartments "too large and visually dominant." He also raised issues with school and healthcare provisions, which he said are already under immense pressure.
Independent councillor Albert Deasy objected to the development, stating that it caused several residents to be "in a state of distress," and said the scheme was at odds with the existing environment, the congestion and traffic arising from the development would be "outrageous" and objected to the building of duplex units due to them "engendering social problems."
Submissions were also received from city councillors Joe Lynch, Terry Coleman, Ciara O'Connor and Gary O'Brien.
Despite these, the council approved the plans, granting permission for the scheme with 59 conditions.
Vehicular access to the proposed site will be via two entrances from Greenfields Road, with separate pedestrian/cycle connections also provided from Greenfields Road.
Ancillary site works will include the provision of bicycle parking and bin storage facilities serving the proposed apartment and duplex buildings, a creche and a commercial/retail unit, landscaping and servicing proposals including the upgrade of public footpaths, active travel infrastructure and water service infrastructure.
Two new pedestrian crossings on the Greenfields Road are also included in the proposed development, along with a noise attenuation screen along the site's southern boundary.
The proposed development also provides for the demolition of an existing dwelling house on Greenfields Road, and the construction of a new recessed site entrance and boundary wall to serve the subject dwelling house.
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