Plans for 140 new apartments on historic Bessborough site in Cork City approved
An artist's rendition of The Farm, an apartment development proposed by Estuary View Enterprises (EVE) 2020 Limited.
The developers behind two prior planning attempts for an ambitious redevelopment on lands at the former Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork City have secured the green light for 140 new homes.
Developer Estuary View Enterprises 2020 has received planning permission from City Hall to demolish almost a dozen agricultural buildings and log cabins at Bessborough, Ballinure in Blackrock, to make way for 140 apartments.
The newly-approved plans will see the units spread across three blocks, with two blocks comprising a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The third block will comprise a mix of 47 one- and two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit.
The lands previously formed part of the Bessborough Estate, which encompassed over 200 acres of land.
Cork City Council compulsory purchased some 140 acres of the lands in the 1970s, which have since been developed as Mahon Industrial Park, LoughMahon Technology Park and Mahon Retail Park, as well as a section of the N40 road.
The approved bid comes after a failed attempt by the developer last July, when An Coimisiún Pleanála ruled that the proposal did not meet the planning requirements for unit mix.
Just 1% of apartments in the scheme named The Farm were three-bed units compared to the target of 28% set by Cork City Council.
Responding to the decision in its new application, the developer argues that restrictions in statutory plans relating to mix within apartment developments, "are not warranted other than in specific circumstances."
The commission refused the plans exclusively because of its unit mix and did not adopt a recommendation by its own planning inspector that the application should also be refused planning permission because it was not satisfied that the site was not previously used as a children’s burial ground.
The inspector, Colin McBride, said such a reason had been the basis for An Bord Pleanála to reject two earlier proposed developments in other parts of the Bessborough lands.
"While the Commission refused the previous proposed development, their decision and direction indicated that there was nothing else that would preclude a grant of permission having regard to any perceived Mother and Baby Homes estate legacy matters," the developers said.
"While there is no evidence or suggestions of potential burials on the subject lands, the applicants recognise the sensitivities associated with the legacy of the former Mother and Baby Home and previously consulted with the Cork Survivors & Supporters Alliance (CSSA) before the submission of the application.
"We understand that the CSSA had no objection to the principle of the proposed development, and the applicant’s response to the legacy issues associated with the former Mother and Baby Home has been considered appropriate by An Coimisiún Pleanála."
However, another organisation, the Bessboro Mother & Baby Home Support Group, objected to the development, calling the site one of "profound national significance, containing a landscape of trauma, loss, and unmarked burial locations."
"Any development must begin with truth, respect, and full clarity regarding the children who died there. This proposal does not meet this standard."
Cork City Councillor Peter Horgan also objected to the plans, arguing that the council could not permit a new building to take place on the site if it was to "properly honour the memory of those who suffered and died at Bessborough."
Despite the objections, Cork City Council approved the plans, writing in its decisions that the plans would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area, and is in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
The ambitious development will see two existing farmyard buildings redeveloped as resident amenities which will include a home workspace, a library, a lounge and a function space.
The proposal includes a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the adjoining Passage West Greenway to the east, connecting to the existing down ramp from Mahon. This would provide direct access to the greenway and wider areas, as well as new pedestrian access to Bessborough Estate to the north, as well as upgrades to an existing pedestrian crossing on Bessboro Road.
The development will also include outdoor amenity areas such as publicly accessible parkland, landscaping, surface car parking, bicycle parking, bin stores, substation, public lighting, and roof-mounted solar panels.
Vehicular access to the proposed development will be provided via the existing access road off the Bessboro Road.
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