Páirc Uí Chaoimh appeal to develop bus set-down and turning point turned down

An Coimisiún Pleanála says development could 'create the potential for pedestrian and vehicular traffic conflict'

An appeal by Cork GAA to allow development of a bus and vehicle set-down and turning point at Páirc Uí Chaoimh has been refused by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

An appeal by Cork GAA to allow development of a bus and vehicle set-down and turning point at Páirc Uí Chaoimh has been refused by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh CTR, the company which runs the stadium on behalf of Cork GAA, had made the appeal to secure permission for a vehicular set-down and drop-off circulation area at the stadium and Marina Park in Ballintemple. 

In May, Cork City Council voted to refuse the development, amid a campaign by local residents. Páirc Uí Chaoimh opted to appeal that decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

In its decision, the commission said the development was contrary to the city development plan and would add to "pedestrian and vehicular traffic conflict".

"Having regard to the documentation submitted in connection with the planning application and the appeal and the location of the site in an area zoned ZO15 Public Open Space, where the primary purpose of the zoning is open space and amenity use, the Commission is not satisfied that there is suitable justification for the proposed development given the existing bus set-down and access routes already available to the stadium," the decision said. 

"The Commission considered that the proposed development would be contrary to Policy 12.4 of the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 which notes other uses are open for consideration provided they do not have a detrimental impact on the primary land use zoning objective and would not have any significant adverse impacts on-site or on the surrounding environment.

"The proposed development would contribute to the encroachment of vehicular based traffic to a green space area, would create the potential for pedestrian and vehicular traffic conflict, would militate against the preservation of the open space environment and would set an undesirable precedent for other similar inappropriate development in the vicinity. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."