72 Rochestown homes approved by the planning commission

New housing development alongside new M298 is approved despite objections

New homes will be located near the Bloomfield Interchange at Monfieldstown and Mounthovel in Rochestown.

Plans for more than 70 new homes in Rochestown have been approved by the planning appeals commission.

Diamond Developments Ltd, headed by Declan O'Mahony, lodged plans a year ago to demolish existing agricultural sheds at Monfieldstown and Mounthovel in Rochestown to make way for 72 new residential units. The site is located close to St Patrick's Church alongside the future M28 motorway to Ringaskiddy.

The homes will comprise 10 three-bedroom houses and 62 apartments, which will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. These will be located across two apartment blocks up to five storeys in height.

Associated site works include landscaping and new amenity areas, vehicular and pedestrian access to the Woodbrook Road/ Rochestown Road Roundabout, car and bicycle parking, footpaths, lighting, drainage and bin storage.

Cork City Council had approved the plans in December despite several objections, including one from the Parish Office of St Columba's Church in Douglas. 

In its submission, signed by Canon Teddy O'Sullivan and Fr Patrick O'Mahony, the parish office said that while it was acutely aware of the current housing crisis and the lack of new homes contributing to the issue, it remained "extremely concerned" about certain elements of the application.

These included traffic and parking concerns arising from the development, which the submission said may cause further difficulties for people attending St Patrick's Church, which is located to the southeast of the development site. 

"There is a risk that the proposed development could result in weddings and other services being moved to alternative churches in order to avoid the potential traffic difficulties.

Another submission lodged by local residents also cited traffic concerns, arguing that there were not enough car parking spaces in the plans to prevent on-street parking near the development and their own homes.

The Council's decision was appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála by a number of objectors who raised a variety of concerns. However, the commission this month granted permission for the development. However, one of the conditions states that construction cannot begin until the M28 motorway retaining structures to the west of St Patrick’s Church are completed.