New plan lodged for ex-gaelscoil site

NEW PLAN IS TO DEMOLISH SCHOOL BUILDING TO INSTALL A FOUR STOREY APARTMENT BLOCK WITH 25 UNITS

THE future of the former Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin complex in Ballincollig has once again come under the spotlight following the lodging of yet another residential planning application for the site.

The latest submission, lodged with council planners earlier this month, in the name of the Tuath Housing Association, makes provision for the demolition of the 14-classroom school building and removal of the roadside boundary wall at the Coolroe site.

This will facilitate the construction of a four-story apartment building containing 24-apartments, comprised of four single bed units, 15 two-bed units and a further five three bed units.

Vehicular access to the proposed development will be via a new entrance off the L2778 Inniscarra Road to an ‘under-croft’ car parking area which will also incorporate ancillary storage and utility facilities. It will also include all external landscaping and site works.

Last month a similar application was lodged with the authority under the name of Tango View Ltd. However, this was deemed to be uncompleted by officials.

That was the third application made within the past three years for a residential development on the site, which has lain idle since 2012, with the previous two lodged in the name of PSA Project Management Ltd.

The first of these, lodged in July of 2016 sought a change of use for the 1,074 sq metre building from educational to residential use for a 19 one and two-bed unit development arranged over three-storeys.

The plan was shot down by Council planners who rule that its scale, density and layout would constitute “over development” of the site. They also ruled it would be a “serious traffic hazard” and would, by reason of over looking be “seriously injurious to the residential amenities of the adjoining properties”.

Their decision was upheld on appeal by An Bord Pleanala.

The second PSA application, lodged in May 2017, was slightly amended from its predecessor to include 14 one and two bed apartments within the renovated and extended two-storey school building. That was also shot down, with planners citing the same reasons for refusal as the previous application.

Council planners have set a date of April 15 for the receipt of submissions in relation to the Tuath application, with a decision due on it by May 7.