A debate has started on Cork’s northside as to what should happen with 22 acres owned by the Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross and previously the home of Farranferris College.
The Diocese commissioned a plan on the land’s future drawn up by past pupil and property developer Michael O’Flynn.
This plan proposed (a) rezoning three disused sports pitches (11 acres) to allow 109 private houses be built (b) refurbishment of the college building and construction of new buildings to house tenants in the form of FAS, the VEC, Cope, Cabas and Northside Community Enterprises with crèche and carpark included (c) a three-acre public park.
Four of the five local ward councillors (Fianna Fail’s Damien Wallace and Gary O’Flynn, Fine Gael’s Patricia Gosch and Labour’s Catherine Clancy) co-signed a motion bringing this plan before Cork City Council. I was the only local councillor not to sign it.
City Council threw out the motion. There was a concern that rezoning pitches for housing would set a precedent at a time when developers are casting greedy eyes on the city’s sports facilities. There was also a concern that a dangerous precedent could be set by allowing a developer (albeit one who doesn’t stand to benefit from the rezoning/plan in question) draw up an Area Plan and have it passed without reference to the Council’s Planning Department or proper public consultation.
Instead, the City Manager was instructed to draw up an alternative plan and bring it before Council this year.
Most local residents welcome the fact that the Bishop’s plan was not rubberstamped. They have concerns about traffic implications and a strong desire for a real public consultation.
The Council should be given the power to compulsorily purchase the entire 22 acres. This would allow for the redevelopment of the three disused sports pitches as a facility for the local community especially the youth. The plans for FAS, Cope, etc could and should proceed on this basis. Any housing provided on site should be considerably less than the proposed 109 units and should be built under the government’s affordable housing scheme.
Infrastructure must be provided in advance to cope with any extra traffic and there should be genuine consultation on all of the above with the local community.
