Boat club big loser as Bord Pleanála rejects development
By Eoin English
PLANS for a €50 million mixed-use project in the Blackrock Harbour/Castle Road area of Cork city have been shot down by An Bord Pleanála.
The decision also threatens linked plans to develop new facilities for Cork Boat Club.
Following several attempts, Grangefield Developments was finally granted planning permission by Cork City Council last September for the demolition of the old boat-house on the river Lee; and the construction on the site of 28 residential units ranging in height from two to four storeys; a restaurant; and retail units. The project included plans to in-fill some 1,400 square metres of foreshore for the development of a boardwalk. Grangefield was also granted planning permission under a separate application to develop new facilities for the boat club further downstream. Each project was dependent on the other securing planning.
However, the decision on the mixed-use scheme was appealed to An Bord Pleanála which yesterday confirmed that it has upheld the appeals. "The proposed development includes infilling of part of the Lee River estuary which will result in a loss of habitat and biodiversity and would, therefore, be contrary to the policy set out in the Development Plan."
"It is considered that the proposed development, by reason of its monolithic design on a narrow, restricted plot, would be out of character with the area, constitute overdevelopment of the site and would seriously injure the visual amenities of the area," the report said.