An Bord Pleanála has given the green light to one of east Cork’s biggest-ever housing developments by approving the construction of over 700 new homes in Carrigtwohill.
The board has granted planning permission to BAM Property for the development of 714 residential units at Castlelake, Carrigtwohill under the fast-track planning process for strategic housing development which meant the developer was not required to first seek approval for the project from Cork County Council.
The development consists of 224 houses and 282 duplex units and 208 apartments as well as a creche and multi-use games areas on a 18.3 hectare site.
Parking spaces will be provided for almost 1,300 vehicles and over 900 bicycles.
The apartments will be provided across seven blocks ranging from one to five storeys in height, while the duplexes will be contained in 122 buildings up to three storeys in height.
An Bord Pleanála directed that two duplex units from BAM’s original proposal be removed because of their impact on a neighbouring property.
In its ruling, the board observed that the overall development would “result in a significant contribution to the housing stock in a time of housing need.”
The board said the provision of a development of the nature and scale of the one proposed at Castlelake was desirable given its close proximity to the rail station in Carrigtwohill which provided high frequency, high-capacity train services.
It also noted that the new housing scheme was located in an area “with a wide range of employment opportunities and social infrastructure facilities.”
Access to the proposed development will be via an extension to Castlelake Avenue as well as new entrances linking the new housing estate with the Station Road Link Road.
The board said the development would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or other properties in the vicinity subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions.
They include a stipulation that all houses and duplex units can only be sold to individual buyers and not to any corporate entity or housing body.
The board said BAM’s plans were also acceptable in terms of urban design, height and quantum of development as well as with regard to traffic, pedestrian safety and convenience.
It also expressed satisfaction that the development would not have any significant adverse effects on the surrounding road network or the environment.
Cork County Council had also recommended that planning permission for the housing scheme be granted.
BAM has proposed to make 104 units consisting of 47 apartments, 46 duplex units, and 11 houses available to Cork County Council for social housing under its Part V obligations.
The company has estimated the average cost of a two-bed apartment in the development will be €330,523, while a two-bed duplex will be €370,102.
The cost of a three-bed house in Castlelake is expected to be €386,157.
BAM said the proposed development represented the completion of the masterplan for Castlelake, which had its genesis over 20 years ago when plans were originally designed to provide 1,600 new dwellings.
The company had its application to build 277 new homes at Castlelake rejected by An Bord Pleanála in 2018, despite being approved by Cork County Council, because of inadequate connectivity to the train station in Carrigtwohill and the poor design of the development.
BAM said the latest plans were a response to the board’s decision and involved the development being comprehensively redesigned by a new design team.
It said they included a previously excluded portion of land on which an apartment block would be built that would provide security and surveillance of a new cycleway between Carrigtwohill and Midleton.
An Bord Pleanála received a total of 11 third-party submissions, including one from local Green Party councillor, Alan O’Connor, with all but one raising objections and concerns about the development.
Most issues raised related to traffic and the impact on other homes in the area.
An inspector with An Bord Pleanála said the plans were “effectively delivering a new urban neighbourhood which will all represent a significant expansion of the current town.”
