Cork Construction: 2025 pivotal to city and county's residential market

THIS year is already shaping up to be a busy one in of construction for Cork, with a range of large scale residential developments (LRDs), student accommodation plans, and commercial renovations green-lit across the city and county.

While proposed commercial developments and vital infrastructure plans seemed to take centre stage throughout 2024, this year has already seen a notable amount of residential developments permitted and applied for, positioning 2025 as a pivotal year for housing in Cork.

JANUARY

In January, there were several applications granted by Cork City Council in relation to smaller residential developments, plans seeking change of use from commercial to residential and retail, as well as plans for renovations to retail spaces.

Among those applications given the go-ahead include the construction of nine residential units at Farren’s Quay, submitted by Bellmount Developments Ltd; the construction of four single-storey assisted living dwelling units in Tower, submitted by QBH Developments; the construction of five houses in Killeens, submitted by Stillwater Investments Ltd; and plans for the change of use of vacant first, second and third floors from former restaurant and office use to residential use at 38/39 Washington St, to provide for five new residential units, submitted by Chimera Ltd.

The local authority also granted permission for the refurbishment and extension to existing public toilets, management suite and storage areas at Wilton Shopping Centre; and for the change of use of ground and first floors from financial services use to cafe use at 16/17 Winthrop St, submitted by Sprout & Co Kitchen Ltd.

During this time, plans submitted to the city council include an application lodged by Better Value Unlimited Company seeking changes to the front of the Dunnes Stores department store on Patrick St, consisting of the installation of three vertical lights and the placement of three timber planters; plans seeking permission for a change of use from a former hair and beauty salon on Cardinal Way in Wilton to cafe use, submitted by Soma Coffee Company Ltd; and an application seeking the construction of an LRD at Barry’s Field in Douglas, submitted by Barry’s Field Ltd, consisting of 124 apartments, a cafe, and two office units in a development ranging in height from one to five storeys.

Planning for an additional LRD, consisting of 164 residential units on the Waterfall Rd in Bishopstown was refused by the council in January, on the grounds that the development would be “contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” due to a lack of pedestrian infrastructure connecting the site with public transport facilities, therefore ruling that the proposed development would “endanger pedestrian safety by reason of traffic hazard”.

Meanwhile plans granted by Cork County Council in January include the construction of a residential development consisting of 77 houses and a single storey creche facility in Bandon, submitted by Cork Road Structures Limited; plans for the construction of 18 new detached homes in age West and the restoration and change of use of the protected Mount Saint Joseph’s structure from former institutional use to use as a private dwelling, submitted by Parson Developments Limited; and for the construction of a single storey 15-space creche as part of phase three of the Lois Ard Estate in Fermoy, submitted by JD Buckley Construction Ltd.

There were 76 conditions attached to the development at the site of the protected Mount Saint Joseph’s structure, which will see the demolition of former farm out buildings and the annexes to the rear and southwest of the building.

Other applications submitted to the county council in January include plans for a small residential development along Catholic Walk in Kinsale, consisting of 18 residential units, comprising of five detached units, two of which will have associated domestic garages, eight semi-detached units, and five apartments spread across two blocks, submitted by Catholic Walk Ltd; as well as an application lodged by BAM Property Ltd seeking alterations to a 714-unit LRD, previously permitted by An Bord Pleanála, at Castlelake in Carrigtwohill, to accommodate three additional two-bedroom apartment units, resulting in an increase in the number of residential units in Block A2 from 42 to 45.

FEBRUARY

So far in February, there has been an additional chunk of residential developments submitted to and approved by both city and county councils, as well as further changes sought and approved within the retail and commercial space.

To date this month, Cork City Council has granted planning permission for two LRDs, including a 406-bed student accommodation complex at the site of the former St Joseph’s Convent along the Model Farm Rd, submitted by Lyonshall Ltd; and a 176-apartment unit development, submitted by Marina Quarter Ltd, at the former Ford Distribution site in Ballintemple, comprising of a mix of one-, two- and three-bed units in two blocks, ranging in height from seven to 10 storeys, as well as a creche, gym, and retail/cafe unit.

There were 42 conditions attached to the approved development along the Centre Park Rd in Ballintemple, with one stipulating that to comply with the Supplementary Development Contribution (SDC) Scheme 2023-2029, which was adopted by the local authority in 2023, and in the interests of proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the developer shall pay or enter into an agreement with the planning authority to pay a contribution to Cork City Council in respect of the Cork Suburban Rail Project, which will, when carried out, benefit the proposed development.

The present value of the contribution, as determined under the SDC Scheme is €104,544.83, which “where no substantial works have been carried out or have not commenced within 10 years of the date of payment of the contribution, the planning authority shall refund the contribution in proportion to those works which have not been carried out together with any interest that may have accrued thereon for the duration it was held unexpended by the planning authority”.

Additionally, approved by Cork City Council, were plans to renovate a section of Cork’s Paul St Shopping Centre, submitted by Holren Properties Ahall Ltd, which will see a change the use of the existing first-floor retail area in the centre, formerly used as a dual space for health-food store Natural Choice and gaming shop Other Realms, to a food court area.

The renovation will include the installation of four new food kiosks and kitchen areas, one movable food kiosk, a staff bathroom, and a communal dining area, as well as the removal of an existing glazed balcony wall inside the shopping centre, to be replaced with partition and toughened glass on top.

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”.

There are 11 conditions attached to the council’s approval of the renovation, with one stipulating that in the interest of clarity and orderly development, the operation of the food court shall be restricted to the hours of 8am to 11pm on any day.

Any deviation from these hours will require prior written approval from the planning authority.

Also submitted to Cork City Council this month were plans for the refurbishment of an existing five storey building on Patrick’s Hill, lodged by Killowen Properties Ltd, to include change of use from commercial to residential use for six apartments comprising of three studio apartments, two one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment, as well as for the construction of a single storey extension at basement level and external balconies from ground floor to second floor to the rear of the building.

Meanwhile this month plans submitted to Cork County Council by Reside Castlepark Ltd were approved for the construction of 99 residential units, comprising of 95 two-,three-, and four- bed semi-detached houses and townhouses, four one-bed and three-bed duplex/apartment units and a creche at a site along St Joseph’s Road in Mallow.

An application for an LRD was additionally lodged with Cork County Council this month, submitted by Bridgewater Homes Ltd, seeking the construction of 362 residential units at a site along Mountain Rd in Carrigaline, to include 318 houses, comprising a mix of two, three and four bed semi-detached and townhouse/terraced units, and 44 two-bed apartment/duplex units, and a creche with a community room and cafe.

In addition, an application seeking 10-year planning permission for a solar farm at Farrangalway in Kinsale was submitted by Integer Energy Ltd to Cork County Council last week; as well as an application submitted by Rockspring Properties (Newport) Limited, seeking permission for the construction of a residential development consisting of 13 dwelling houses at Glenmont in Silversprings.

The proposed residential development comprises of two semi-detached three-bed dwelling houses of two storeys, seven terraced three-bedroom dwelling houses of two storeys, and four semi-detached two-bedroom dwelling houses of two storeys.