Appeals board allows 12-storey apartment block in Cork docklands

An Bord Pleanála has granted fast-track planning permission for a 12-storey block of 190 apartments on a site close to the Marquee concert venue in Cork’s South Docklands.

The appeals board gave the green light to Tiznow Property Company Ltd for the scheme on the former Cork Warehouse Company site at Marquee Road and Monahan Road despite an objection lodged by the Department of Education.

The scheme – which is phase one of an overall masterplan for the surrounding area – consists of 106 two-bed, 64 one-bed and 20 three-bed apartment units.

In its objection to the Tiznow plan, the Department of Education pointed to the anticipated growth in the population of the docks area and the consequences for primary and secondary school provision, which it expects to lead to a maximum requirement for six 24-classroom primary schools and two 1,000-pupil post-primary schools.

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School site

The department expressed concern that the proposed development could prejudice the reasonable future development of a proposed schools site adjacent to the apartment scheme.

It asked that the proposed residential development be refused permission or redesigned to ensure the proper development of the school site.

In his inspector’s report, board inspector Stephen Rhys Thomas stated that he did not agree with the position taken by the Department of Education that permission should be refused for the proposed development because it prejudices the future development of the school site.

He said: “I do not anticipate that a modern and new urban school model cannot be designed to cope with the proposed urban scale of development planned for the subject site.”

Mr Rhys Thomas also said he did not anticipate that a school building of up to six storeys could not be erected on the schools site in such a manner as to protect residential amenities and ensure that the schools operated unhindered.

In terms of height, Mr Rhys Thomas also concluded “taller buildings are welcome at this location” and that the applicant makes the case that it is appropriate to contravene the development plan in terms of height in line with national guidance and Cork City Council hold the same opinion.