Cork's Jacob's Island granted permission for 556 new homes

The ongoing €750m development for Jacob's Island, Mahon in Cork is expected to ultimately deliver more than 1,200 homes.

A large-scale residential development of 556 units across four blocks at Jacob’s Island in Cork's Mahon has been granted planning permission.

Hibernia Star Ltd, linked to McCarthy Developments (Cork) Ltd, lodged an application for a 10-year planning permission in January for the new units as part of an ongoing €750m development, expected to ultimately deliver more than 1,200 homes.

Extensive building work is already underway on Jacb's Island with 149 units currently under construction.

These latest units, across three blocks, with completion dates ranging from May to November 2027, will be predominantly two-bed apartments, with 150 one-bed units, and the tenure will be cost-rental (c 25% below local market value).

Approved housing body Respond will own and operate the apartments.

The proposed 556-unit development features extensive green amenity areas for future residents, the highlight of which is a 2,976 sq m central park. A planned garden area to the north-east of the site will incorporate a preserved wine cellar, the last physical remains of the historic Lakeland House which once occupied this site. Each of four residential blocks will also have its own landscaped courtyard space.

The latest planning application from Hibernian Star Ltd – part of a masterplan for the Mahon peninsula - comes in the wake of a change last July of guidelines governing apartment building. An application for 489 units was shot down by An Bord Pleanála more than a year ago, but the new guidelines are less restrictive in terms of dwelling mix. The developer has also proposed upgrades to the local road network to address traffic congestion concerns.

Permission was granted in 2023 for a 165-bed hotel and 10,000 sq m of office space, and McCarthy Developments managing director Tom McCarthy said they plan to start work on both elements in Q1 2027 “subject to an operator, and occupiers for the offices”.