New social houses on the way for Kanturk
FOLLOWING the mothballing of a proposal to develop 16 new social houses at Bluepool in Kanturk there was finally some good news on the local housing front this week.
This after it emerged that a planning application for a development of 25new units for social housing on a site at Millview Road, Coolacoosane has been given the green light by County Council planners.
The application, originally lodged in April of last year under the name of Boar’s Head Limited, made provision for the demolition of an existing shed on the site, works to the existing access point and the construction of a mix of two, three and four bedroomed bungalows, town-houses and semi-detached houses.
The decision process was delayed due to a number of requests for further information relating to the application before planners gave it the thumbs up.
“The proposed development would not be prejudicial to residential amenity or the amenities of the area, would not detract from the heritage of would be acceptable in terms of traffic impacts and would therefore be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” they ruled.
The approval did come with 36 separate conditions addressing a variety of issues including road and traffic safety, the protection of local amenities, flood prevention and compliance with objectives of the Council’s housing strategy.
The conditions also stipulated that the developer set aside a bond prior to the commencement of construction work and that they pay a contribution of €23,860.92 under the Council’s Development Contribution’s Scheme.
A spokesman for Cork County Council confirmed that they has been given approval under the Rebuilding Ireland programme to develop “a turnkey housing project of 25 new social housing units” on the site.
“Cork County Council is now entering into contract negotiations with the developer to deliver this scheme for social housing use,” said the spokesman.
“This scheme will help meet the considerable demand for social housing in Kanturk, where cork County Council presently has 149 approved applicants on the housing list.”
A point also made by local independent county councillor Timmy Collins who said the 25 new homes would make a welcome dent on the local housing list.
“Given the huge demand for social housing in the Kanturk area the news that this development has been granted planning is most welcome. I am hoping that we will see work commence on the site soon,” said Cllr Collins.
“I would also be hopeful that the situation in relation to the proposed houses at Bluepool will be resolved soon so the project can be put back on the agenda as soon as is possible,” he added.