Plans for 406-bed student development in Cork gets green light

Planning permission has been granted for a large-scale student development at the site of the former St Joseph’s Convent.

The permitted application, submitted by Lyonshall Ltd, seeks to demolish the former convent at the site located along the Model Farm Rd, to construct a 406-bed complex.

The complex will be delivered in two apartment blocks, ranging between two and five storeys in height, including more than 50 apartments, ranging between three and seven bed spaces, and more than 70 studio apartments.

Access to the proposed development, which also includes plans for the construction of an on-site cafe, would be via the Model Farm Rd by a new vehicular/pedestrian access-way, and would provide for cycle and car parking for tenants.

Approving the proposed development, Cork City Council said it considered that, subject to compliance with the conditions set out, the development “would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area, and is in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

Conditions

There are 33 conditions attached to the council’s approval of the development, which was initially proposed as a 408-bed student accommodation complex.

One condition stipulates that in the interest of the visual amenities of the area and the residential amenity of ading properties, that prior to commencement, the applicant must submit revised drawings “showing the omission of the three-bed cluster unit located on the fifth floor to the North of Block B”, and its replacement by a studio unit or alterations made to a six-bed cluster, to a seven-bed cluster.

Another states that the development may only be used for student accommodation, or tourist/visitor accommodation during academic year breaks and “shall not be used for the purposes of permanent residential accommodation, as a hotel, hostel, apart-hotel, or similar use” without prior approval.

Additionally, another condition outlines that the proposed on-site cafe will not be permitted to operate as a hot-food/takeaway outlet under the current grant of planning permission.

Prior to the approval of this application, which was submitted in December 2024, a previous application, lodged in December 2023, seeking the construction of a 450-bed complex at the site, was refused in June of last year.