Plans for more than 400 student beds at site of former Cork city convent resubmitted

Plans for a major student development at the site of the former St Joseph’s convent on Model Farm Rd have been resubmitted to Cork City Council, following An Bord Pleanála’s refusal earlier this year.

The plans, lodged by Lyonshall Ltd, which was also behind the Nido Ashlin House development on Bandon Rd, are seeking to demolish the old St Joseph’s convent to provide for the construction of a 408-bed, purpose-built student accommodation.

This latest submission differs from the previous plans, which were originally submitted in December 2023, as they initially sought the construction of a 450-bed development, but were refused in June of this year.

Speaking to The Echo, the managing director of Lyonshall, Kieran Coughlan, said that he thinks the development would be “a plus for Cork city”.

“While I expect an appeal from everyone that objected before; I do not expect a refusal from planners or the board at this stage,” said Mr Coughlan.

“We have redesigned it to satisfy the board, and so that the residents [of the area] will be more satisfied [too]: It’s been a year in the remodelling, which is a pity for the students who could be living there, but, for now, it would be most unusual to see it refused a second time.”

Local councillors have welcomed the new plans to counter the lack of student accommodation in the city, but they have raised concerns about traffic management in the area.

TRAFFIC CONCERNS

Labour Party city councillor Laura Harmon said that while she thinks the injection of further student accommodation is “positive” for Cork city, she would be concerned about impacts such as added traffic congestion.

“There is a need for more student accommodation, but I have concerns about parking spaces and traffic management in Bishopstown and the city, which need to be addressed,” she said.

Fianna Fáil city councillor Terry Coleman said: “I absolutely welcome accommodation of all sorts, but it still has to be in sync with the residential element of the area — consideration has to be taken for what is in close proximity to it.

“Accommodation of any type is necessary — student accommodation is also badly required, and [the development] would be located right in between UCC and MTU.”

Cork City Council is due to make a decision on the application by early February.

'SECURE ENVIRONMENT' FOR STUDENTS

Mr Coughlan added: “We all know that there is a shortage of student accommodation, [and] the most important thing about these schemes that people forget is that they are the most secure environment for a young student to be in — they’re very well managed. It’s where I’d want my daughter or son to be living.

“To get it [over the line] would be a big thing, and [if] we get planning permission in 2025, it should be open in mid-2028, which is a very big delay.”

In addition to the construction of the accommodation and the demolition of the old convent, a coffee shop would also be built at the site of the development.

At the time of the refusal, the An Bord Pleanála said that — having regard to the provisions of the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 — the proposed development, “by reason of the quantity of studio units, the floor area of individual studio units, the limited communal facilities and the location of the communal facilities in Block 1 only, fails to provide a satisfactory standard of residential amenity for the student population.”

Based on this , the latest proposed development would see 42 fewer studio apartments, and would be provided in two apartment buildings reaching between two to five storeys in height.

These buildings would include 57 apartments, ranging in size from three to seven bedrooms, providing 355 bed-spaces, as well as 73 studio apartments, all served by open space and internal student amenities — such as a gym, study areas, and meeting rooms.

Access to the development would be given via the Model Farm Rd by a new vehicular/pedestrian access-way, and would provide for cycle and car parking for tenants.