Planning permission has been granted for a large-scale residential development comprising almost 270 homes on the northern outskirts of Midelton, Co Cork.

An Bord Pleanála has upheld Cork County Council’s decision to approve the development, but revised some details to approve by a 2:1 majority 268 residential units, a nursery and a community building at Broomfield West, Midleton.

A further planning requirement was that the new apartments may only be sold to individual buyers and not to commercial investors or housing associations that provide social housing or affordable housing.

The new residential complex planned by the developer Castle Rock Homes with 212 houses, 48 ​​semi-detached houses and eight apartments on an 8-hectare site had met with resistance from several residents.

The plans also include some road widening works and a new footpath on Broomfield Road in Midleton.

While An Bord Pleanála approved most of the development proposed by Castle Rock Homes, it ordered that plans for seven houses be revised to achieve a more active, two-fronted appearance.

The developer was also instructed to provide more storage space when designing the two-bedroom duplex apartments.

The Board also requires that the daycare and community unit must be fully equipped and ready for immediate occupancy and operation before construction can begin on the second phase of the residential units.

Castle Rock Homes had lodged a separate appeal against the council’s decision, which involved a number of conditions, including that 22 houses at the northern end of the site should be removed to create public open space.

The court was successful in arguing that the omission of 22 units was unnecessary and that there were insufficient reasons for their exclusion.

The developer also successfully challenged conditions regarding the gradual implementation of the construction project and a reduction in the height of eight maisonette apartments, which he argued would result in the loss of four one-bedroom apartments.

In addition, the Board also lifted the Council’s requirement that the developer pay a special contribution of €965,175 for the works to be carried out on the Northern Relief Road in Midleton, as well as for cycle and pedestrian paths and traffic signals.

An An Bord Pleanála inspector said the demand for such a contribution was unjustified.

In its majority decision, the Board stated that it was of the opinion that the proposed development would be consistent with the land use planning and other provisions of the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028, provided a number of planning conditions were met.

It was decided that the plans would enable efficient use of a designated green space on the outskirts of Midleton and would make a positive contribution to increasing the housing stock.

The board also explained that the development was acceptable in terms of urban design, room layout and building height as well as pedestrian and traffic safety.

In addition, it was stated that the housing project would provide an acceptable level of living comfort to future residents and would not seriously impair the residential and visual amenities of the area.

A total of 27 housing units will be made available to Cork County Council under the Part V social and affordable housing provisions.

Opponents of the construction project expressed numerous concerns about excessive development, the capacity of the water and sewage networks in the region and the inconvenience to residents caused by the construction phase.

Several complainants complained that the new houses and nursery would have a view of their property and that the local road was not suitable for such traffic – claims which the developer denies.

Other issues raised included the risk of flooding and the capacity of local schools and other social facilities in the area to accommodate the increased number of residents in the settlement.