Council shoot down revised plan for former B/Collig gaelscoil site
PLANNERS REFUSE PERMISSION FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT VACANT FORMER SCHOOL
AN ambitious plan to transform the former Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin complex in Ballincollig into a residential development has been dealt yet another serious body blow by Cork County Council planners.
In June of last year an application was lodged by PSA Project Management Ltd seeking a change of use for the 1,074 sq metre school building at Coolroe, which has laid idle since 2012, from educational to residential use. It made provision for 19, one and two-bed apartments arranged over three storeys with ancillary works and 20 car parking spaces.
Planners subsequently shot down the plan, ruling that its “scale, density and layout” would result in “over development” of the site and that it would present a “serious traffic hazard” setting an “undesirable precedent” for other developments in the locality and would not “enhance the character and amenity” of the area in line with the County Development Plan.
Planners also ruled the development would, by reason of overlooking, be “seriously injurious to the residential amenities of the adjoining properties”.
While PSA Management Ltd appealed the decision, including making amendments to the original proposal, senior An Bord Pleanala planning inspector Mary Crowley cited two key reasons and considerations for upholding the council’s original ruling.
She agreed with council planners that the scale, density and layout of the proposal would constitute over development of the site, resulting in “insufficient public open space to serve the density proposed.”
Ms Crowley also agreed the proposed development would be “seriously injurious” to the residential amenities of the adjoining properties.
“To permit the development proposed (as amended) would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” her report concluded.
Last May PSA submitted a revised application for the site to the council making provision for a scaled down development of 14, one and two-bed apartments arranged over two-storeys with 18 car parking spaces.
As with the original proposal, primary vehicular and pedestrian access would be via the existing entrance from the Inniscarra Rd with the addition of a new dedicated pedestrian entrance and footpath along the road.
It has now emerged that planners have also shot down this proposal, with the reasons for the refusal broadly in line with those given for refusing the initial plan.
They ruled the scale, density, design and layout of the planned development would constitute over development of the site resulting in unacceptable and restrictive turning facilities, inadequate parking provision, unacceptably restrictive and steep sloping access areas and insufficient play areas.
In addition, planners said the a planned pedestrian crossing and bins storage area would constitute a “serious hazard” and the external materials proposed were not of an “appropriate quality and durability” to ensure satisfactory integration into the area.
“The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the residential amenities of the area, would result in a serious traffic hazard and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” read their report.
As with the initial proposal, planners ruled the revised development would impact on the residential amenities of neighbouring properties “by reason of overlooking.”